I think that the way we drive says a lot about the way we live.  Many motorists on our roadways are aggressive drivers; some go to extremes and become angry drivers or even suffer road rage.  Others claim to be competitive but not aggressive drivers who fiercely reach their destination by outsmarting others in their path.  All of us should drive to arrive by exercising caution around yellow lights, black ice, and other hazards.  Be alert and defensive out there.  Though it seems like fewer and fewer are laid-back in their driving style, a few are so defensive that they steer in fear.  If life is a journey, the way we drive is crucial to reaching our destination; hills and dips, curves and straightaways, potholes and detours present interesting and adventurous expeditions.

Through the years, I realize that my car goes faster when I am headed home than when I am headed out (unless I am running late for an appointment).  I love my home and usually am eager to arrive there.  It reminds me of growing up on a farm with horses.  The saddled equine sometimes moved slowly when starting a ride but when they perceived that it was ending, as we headed back to the barn, they gained new energy and sped up.  They couldn’t wait to get home, take a load off their backs, cool down, and get a snack or other reward.  I seem to be a lot like those horses, especially in the evenings.  I, too, can’t wait to get home, take off my burdens, change clothes, get a bite to eat, and rest.

Dream analysts suggest that when we dream of being in a car, we should take note of whether we’re driving.  If we’re behind the wheel, we are in control; if in a passenger’s seat, we’re not.  We should, in that case, glance over to see who is driving us.  It will mean something different if it’s your boss or your spouse, and really different if it’s your grandchild or pet.  It’s a wonderful sign if God is behind the wheel.  If the steering wheel is disengaged or the brakes aren’t working, that’s another issue altogether.  Dreams might be significant indicators of how we maneuver our earthly journey.

My mother couldn’t wait till my youngest brother turned sixteen.  It was the day that she handed in her car keys after decades of chauffeuring kids and running errands.  She was a person of duty, doing what was required of her even if she didn’t feel like it.  But if it was not required, she was anxious to relinquish the task.  My dad, on the other hand, liked to be in control as driver and keeper of the keys until the day he died.  Many people believe that we should encourage our aging parents to drive, even if less and less frequently, so that they don’t also give up in various other aspects of life while naturally diminishing.

Driving cars might just be a hundred-year-long experience in which we are privileged to participate because we happen to live at this time in history.  With self-driving vehicles on the horizon, future generations may not want or need to do so.  I’m glad about the experience and I think it truly does reflect how we navigate earthly life.  If it’s true that my car goes faster when I head home, I suspect time will fly for me as I age and decline.  Saint Paul wrote that our true home is heaven, and Jesus indicated that there are many dwelling places waiting there for us.  In that sense, I am eager to arrive.  If I am not the one behind the wheel to navigate the roadway, I hope that it is God or one of His angels in the driver’s seat to take me to my destination where I can enjoy the comforts of home and rest.