Night Drives

Psalm 30:5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Tonight my parents, Jo Lynn, and I are heading to Pensacola Beach, Florida. We are going to down to watch the Navy's Blue Angels put on their heavenly demonstration over the Crystal blue water of the Gulf of Mexico. We made the journey last year on a very spur of the moment decision by yours truly. My parents ended up loving it so much that they planned a trip this year. So off we go...

We will be driving in the middle of the night. We will arrive somewhere between 3:00 am and 6:00 a.m. just in time to see the sunrise.

I love these kind of trips because they remind me of life. The Christian walk. Its daylight when you first start. You are in the car ready to go, bags are packed, map is out, munchin on some chips. Then, there comes a point in your trip where the sun sets and all you got are the 2 headlights and 15 or so feet in front of you to see the road and exits signs. All you have to get from point to point is that map and road signs. You have no sunlight to tell you east from west or what is off in the distance...just a map and some signs. You have to rely on that map because it coordinates with the signs to get you to the right place.

If done correctly, it will keep you out of the ditch or having a head on collision. Eventually you arrive at you "next" destination. The sun will rise and shine beautiful light on the road just traveled. You will see where you are and that you are safe. You will see where you have been.

Also a side note: I remember my first night drive...it sucked. I was so scared that I would make a wrong turn and end up in california. The more drives a had to do the better I got. Now, my dad can do them with ease...he just need a bottle of coke and some peanuts and he is good to go. He is a teacher to me now. He has great knowledge of the map, car, and of the areas he has been throughout his life. I mean when I am lost or have car problems, I usually call him. He did not gain this knowledge by not having any problems. He has had plenty of them and still does.

Night drives are a great way to paint a picture of what happens to us in our walks. We are just little cars driving around constantly facing fork in roads, flat tires, oil changes, just mere maintenance problems, sometimes we break down and sometimes we have that long gruelling night drive. Fortunately we have our owners manual and road map all in one. The Bible. When you got no one else... you always have it. It is always there.

Gods word is a light for your path. We should use it all the time. The more you read The Bible the more prepared you will be when you have to take on what this world has to throw at you. The more prepared you will be on that night drive.

NOTE: DRIVING IN GENERAL IS EASIER WITH OTHER PEOPLE TO HELP YOU AND KEEP YOU ALERT AND AWAKE...DO NOT DRIVE ALONE...THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE PASSENGER SEATS...IT IS WHAT THE "CAR" WAS BUILT TO DO.

So, please pray for us on this trip that we will make it safely.