A New Driver

A New Driver

The line at the local DMV was out the door and snaking around the building by nine o’clock in the morning. Although twenty-four stations for service lined the perimeter of the interior, only eight employees were helping customers at any given time. (Yes, I counted.)

Each of us in line had been given a number, and those numbers were not being called in any sort of sequential order. The whole system defied understanding—or at least it defied mine. Most of us were not excited to be there. But at least one of us was. One teenage boy and his father appeared quite happy to shuffle forward in line, then linger for an undetermined time in the sea of plastic chairs that spanned the width of the room. In fact, this young man was practically bouncing on the balls of his tennis-shoed feet in giddy anticipation, chattering happily with his dad.

While we were there to renew our licenses, he was clearly there to get his for the first time. We had plenty of driving history behind us and were annoyed at the chore of having to renew. But this young man was not annoyed. Not in the least. The thrill of the open road and the promise of a driver’s license not marked “provisional” made his own wait seem like nothing.

It’s been years since I first got behind the wheel of my brand-new faith in Christ. My relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit cannot be called “new” by any linear measure of time. But what a tragedy it would be if I simply lined up each day and trudged along with grim determination to reach some unseen finish line! What a waste to become so numb to the joy of following Jesus that I resent time spent in his company.

This day is brand new, even if my faith is not. I cannot know what it might hold, nor will I see it again when it is done. Dear God, surprise me! In whatever way you see fit, answer my prayers and disturb my plans. Let me be giddy with expectation of what we might do together, today. After all, you, precious Father, make all things new!

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning.

Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV