Driving is such a big part of my life. I drive my car pretty much every day of my life. It has become something essential. This is true for most people. We need our cars to get to work, to school, to soccer games, social events, church, and so much more. They take us to all the places we want and have to go to each day. What would we do without our cars?
In my almost daily experience of driving, I see something that reminds me of my first lessons behind the wheel. Every day, I see someone weaving in and out of traffic, cutting and darting in and out of as many lanes as are available. I see people change lanes at the last minute, swerve across multiple lanes, and repeat this process for miles. It is not likely that a day goes by without my seeing the lane swapping, which is such a part of our roadway life today.
Everyone is moving from one lane to the other. We all do it at times. I don’t know all the reasons for the lane swapping we do when we drive. I imagine it is sometimes because we are late. Other times, we are impatient and frustrated. Maybe it is because we want to go faster so the dog can get a better tongue-wagging experience out the window! Occasionally, we have to change lanes because of debris in the road, potholes, or other hazards.
Lane changing is part of the everyday drive of life. If you are on the road, expect to change lanes and see others changing lanes. I don’t change lanes very often when I drive and I do fine. I might just be boring like my kids tell me. I might just be old-fashioned or just old, but I don’t move around too much when I drive from one place to the other. To get where I am going, I find myself following the sage advice of my stepfather:
Get in the lane you want to be in and stay in it!
What great advice for life! In driving, I have learned to plan and think ahead about where I am going. Then, I get in the lane I want to be in or need to be in to get to that place, and I drive. It does not matter much what obstacles or vehicles I encounter; I choose my lane and stick to it. I know which lane takes me where I want to go and I stay in it. Even if I am not completely sure of where I am going, I apply this strategy. If I have to turn left ahead some distance, I quickly get to the left lane and stay in it until I get to my turn. I repeat this process until I arrive—get in the lane I need to be in and stay there.
Many (if not most) life decisions only need to be made once. For instance, you can decide today to go to college, be honest in all you do, never do drugs, and more. You only have to decide these things one time. That’s right! One time is all it takes. It is wise and helpful to consider carefully what you want and make the choice now. Then, you will not have to make the decision in the moment— in crisis—when it is so much harder to make.
When you firmly choose your direction and the steps it takes to get there (or stay away from there), life is so much easier to navigate. When we have, with determined and prayerful resolve, chosen our true course, we are blessed with peace of mind and assurance we are going to arrive safely and without as much trouble. Decide early and carefully which lane you want to be in, and stay in it. That will get you there!
