Movement and travel are all things that we have experienced and it does depict life.  Even as we walk up on a lizard, squirrel, bird or frog, the first thing we do is see if it moves.  If it moves that means it is alive.

How a living thing moves and why they move about is another whole idea. What motivates one to move and what determines when to not move. Those are big areas of discussion, but they are definitely not something to just kick to the side of the road. Since we just declared that moving is the sign of living.

Perspective

Here is a photo of a few people traveling on some public transportation. Each person is moving in the same manner, but they also all have their own thing going on in their lives.

As you look at this photo, what are some of the thoughts or stories do you see? Each of them are all moving “together”, but different things are going on.

And it does not really matter the type of transportation, we just seem to all gather together and travel together….

As you look at this photo you probably begin to wonder about our current times of “social distancing and if life will or should ever get back to these type of rides, but the concept is truly evident. Each one brings their own life on the ride.

Whether it is a couple people excited and traveling together with expectations of hope and wonder, or the gaze out the window of experiencing something new and exciting. Or the cloud of dismay and gloom. Maybe dreading the situation they are going to, or maybe even the despair of what they just left.

One thing is certain we all bring us where we go and we do experience others when we gather.  How we deal with who we are and where we are going is part of who we are.

How about another picture of some people traveling together….

Of course we giggle and laugh, but what is the first couple of things that you see? (Besides “Miss Cyclone” really not promoting fun on her own ride.

What makes the difference in “Miss Cyclone” and her companion?

What makes the difference in “Miss Cyclone” and the group in the back?

Some might say fear, or better put trust.  Miss Cyclone was very fearful of this ride. She was not sure about how it was going to end. Yet on the same ride, the group in the back had trust that the rollercoaster was going to go down this big drop-off and life was going to go on. Others might have other thoughts.

Trust and Fear

Our mental state of trusting has a lot to do with our life. How we experience life has a lot to do with trust. When our confidence is shaken, and we don’t have control of things we begin to doubt what we trust or believe in. Will I have enough money, will I have a job, will I ever retire, and the thoughts go on.

What we do know is that what we feed grows.  During times of challenge, we do have options. We can have anxiety and fear and feed those emotions, or we can look to God and feed our time with him.  In these times of crisis, many Christians are consuming themselves with mainstream media more than they are consuming themselves with God.

²⁸ Why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, ²⁹ yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. ³⁰ And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

³¹ “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ ³² These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. ³³ Seek the Kingdom of God^[e] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

³⁴ “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.   – Matthew 6;28-34 NLT

Can you share about a time when you did not think it could not get any worse, but it did? What was your emotions while “in it”, and what is your perspective now, looking back on it?

It takes the same amount of energy to worry as it does to pray.  One challenge we can take is how do we spend our times during the day?

⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

Control & Rule

We have all seen these parenting tools at the grocery store. They come in all shapes and sizes and the concept is truly creative. It gives the children a distraction while the parent can actually get some shopping done.

Have you ever experienced such an event? Probably not from the drivers seat, but maybe from the pushing side?  

There was an illustration given where a man had taken his daughter to the grocery store and  put her in the drivers seat at the local store. The dad went on to explain how it was kind of cute and fun at the beginning when he would direct the car in the direction his daughter turned the wheel.  At first the girl was amazed that she could make transitions by turning the wheel. With many moments of quick admiration to her father about “look at me, I’m driving”.

Then as the father realized he better get on with what he went to the store for, the challenges began. The pilot, still with focus on driving, turned the wheel, and the car did not respond as expected.  The car went right when she wanted to go left.  Reality was setting in that dad was going along with the plans for a while to let the child feel like they were in control, but it was time to get things done. The girl of course got frustrated and even made some noise, but in the end, the father had a purpose, and even if the girl thought it was all about her and what she wanted to do, the father had a purpose and control.

What are some of your thoughts now now you think of our lives and the children’s grocery cart?

In our lives we might not get as drastic as riding in a cart with a fake steering wheel believing we are driving the cart, but if we are honest, there are many times where we live an illusion that we are in control of things, when really, our father is pushing our cart with his own agenda.

¹⁶“A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. ¹⁷ He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ ¹⁸ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. ¹⁹ And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

²¹ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” — Luke 12: 16-21 NLT

What are some insights of this parable of Jesus and one’s mentality of control?

As we go about our week let us realize that driving is fun, and can bring pleasure, but let us put into perspective the whole picture of life…