Why not buckle up and test drive the following?

When I was in my twenties I drove a little blue Honda Civic. Right now, I own a silver Nissan Cube. I call it my “to-go box.”

I favor something simple to get me from one point to the other.

I’ve never considered my vehicle to be a status symbol. I don’t need hot-looking colors, racing stripes, dual exhaust,or an extreme set of tires on my rig.

When I was in my twenties I tended to be in a big hurry. When taking longer trips, I would frequently pass vehicles that were right at the speed limit or driving a little slower. I was usually focused upon getting to my destination in the shortest amount of time.

Now that I’m 60, my driving habits have changed considerably. When I make a longer trip, I am usually quite comfortable following vehicles that are right at the speed limit or even a little slower. I am in no rush, without a desire to pass. The goal is to get to the destination while driving safely and avoid risk-taking.

Let’s treat the above as a collection of metaphors for life: I believe God is the author and owner of time and grants us a portion of it.

How have you spent this time? Have you invested too much on your own wheels while neglecting the needs of others?

Have you been in too much of a hurry at times, so focused upon arriving at a goal that the quality of the trip has somehow suffered? Have some elements of this been reckless?

Perhaps you have been so fortunate as to have a guardian angel pull you over, give you a warning, and leave you with some words of wisdom? “Remember to be a good citizen. Share the road with others.”

Yes, in life, the destination is key, but what is just as important is the safety of others in your vehicle.

Remember, it is never too late to change your driving habits.

Walter is pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church and has served as parish pastor for more than 25 years.