Driving Blind
An Analogy for Christian
Living
My husband has a nephew
who, as a result of an accident, became blind in young adulthood.
This injury happened after Jay* had learned to drive. A few years
after the accident Jay and his father were out at my in-laws farm. It
was a hay day and Jay went along to feel like part of the action. We
came to a point in the day's operation when I was not of much use
throwing the bales onto the trailer. I had strength limitations that
the men did not suffer from. I could only set the bales two to three
layers high. The men, however, can throw bales up several layers
high. (The highest load I can remember was seven-high, but I
digress.)
Since I could not throw the
bales, someone suggested that I drive the truck that pulled the
trailer. That would have been a great idea . . . if I had known how
to drive a manual transmission vehicle. After some good-natured
teasing at my expense someone joked, “It's too bad Jay can't drive.
He knew how to drive a stick.”
Jay's reply was serious, “I
still know how to drive.” I told Jay that he could probably drive
the truck better than I could even without the use of his eyes.
That's how the idea came about.
Jay and I worked in tandem
to drive the truck (much to the consternation of Jay's father). Jay
sat behind the wheel looking like the cat that got the canary. He was
ready. And oddly, I was not nervous either. I had faith in Jay, and
Jay had faith in me. Somehow it worked! I gave Jay detailed
directions about speed, braking, and steering. Jay obeyed my
directions as well as he could have and better than most of the
workers expected.
Riding in the truck with
Jay has become a legendary memory to me. I was tremendously proud of
both him and myself that day. I was pleased that I spoke in a way to
direct Jay's path. And, I was astounded that a blind man could drive
a truck pulling a hay trailer with such ease.
Directing Jay's driving is
a good metaphor for how we ought to place our faith in the Lord. All
of us Christians are driving blind to some extent. We generally know
what we want to accomplish, but we don't know the best way to steer
ourselves to get there. Happily, my metaphor is flawed. Unlike me,
God can see the whole picture. He will plainly guide us if we trust
in Him. He knows that if we heed his warnings and directions that we
will stay on the right path. But, if we disregard his cautions we
might end up stuck in a rut.
Trust in the Lord with
all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB
*not his real name
