When the Rubber Meets the Road

 

When the Rubber Meets the Road

 

I was thinking about this saying as I was driving. I was thinking about how I, as a Christian live. What happens in my life as I venture on “life’s highway?

I got to looking at tires on the cars in front of me. I started to think about my tires as they went along the road. I couldn’t tell from driving my car if other people’s tires were bald, or even how much tread was on them.

That’s like life. It isn’t always evident how much wear a person has had on their life. Should I care if anyone’s tires, or life for that matter, are bald? If it rains and a person’s tires are bald it could become my concern if I am near them. They could slide into me and possibly injure people around them.

Yes, I should be concerned when I see people worn down by life. Life is hard and at times very dangerous. Dangerous to those on their last tread. Emotionally they may act out in dangerous ways. They may hurt themselves or others. It happens. What do you do when you encounter someone like this? Maybe you are that person? What would you like someone to do for you? What would be helpful?

Do you know who the Michelin Man is? When tires are bad, he’s a great one to go visit. When I’m on my last thread or tread I know the Great One to Visit. His name is Jesus. I know I need to pray to the God who sees. (Genesis 16:13). You might want to read the story of Hagar.  To know a God who loves me like no other who is ready to help anytime I call out brings such comfort. He knows how to safely get me back on the road. I know I shouldn’t wait until I’m on my last tread…..but it happens sometimes. He always has what is needed. He should always be my first go to.

I will admit, I speed at times. I may take corners a bit fast, which I’ve been told will wear my tires out faster. My tires will no longer meet the road like they did before. My tires may become unbalanced.  I could slow down around those corners. I could just slow down period. Is that you?  Speeding along life’s highway, getting worn out faster than you should?  If so, what do you do about it? What could you do about it?

I know for me I have learned, most days, to pace myself. When I can’t see beyond that corner or past the next light it’s okay. It’s so easy to get out of balance. If I take one day at a time, trusting the God of all creation to get me balanced, I know He will. I just need to ask.  Oh but I better believe and not doubt. (Matthew 7:7, James 1:6-8)

In Las Vegas the roads are pretty bad. There are a lot of bumps in the pavement and also a lot of construction going on. Roads are blocked, detours abound making errands difficult at times. My tires do their best to get me to where I need to go. They don’t like bumps, potholes (that I usually hit) or the lanes that aren’t marked clearly to show them what lane to stay in. My tires, that rubber, has no say in what happens along the routes we must take. Oh how pleasant when the rubber meets a smooth road.

There are so many external things in our lives that we have no control over. We must go over some bumps, hit a few potholes, not even sure at times what lane to stay in. Are you with me here? Do you get what I’m saying? What happens when the road of life is less than smooth? What do you do? Do you question why? Do you get angry? Do you blame others? Sometimes it’s nothing we have done to create the rough road. Sometimes it has everything to do with what we’ve done to create rough spots in our lives. What I do know is there is a God who sent His Son Jesus to help us navigate through the rough spots AND EVEN WHEN WE CREATED THEM OURSELVES, HE IS WAITING FOR US TO GO TO HIM AND ASK FOR HIS FORGIVENESS.  He does what He says He will do, because He is faithful. (Romans 5:8, Psalm 46:1-3, Numbers 23:19)

When the rubber, of my life, meets the road, I want it to lead to life. (Matthew 7:13-14)

I’ll seek God to keep my tread on, balance me and get me through all the rough roads ahead. I will be praising through it all and smiling BiG when I hit the smooth parts of the road knowing He’s with me ALL THE WAY! He’s also with you.

 

May you feel His presence on the road with you!

Eva Popek 

(3/8/2024)