willingness

How often are we asked to do something that doesn’t suit us?

It can be intimidating to not be in control. That’s my biggest challenge.

Do you find yourself with the same problem?

I have a story about being a passenger in an out of control driving incident.

In November 2022 we took a family trip to see our oldest graduate in Northern California. The grandparents decided to meet up with us in their RV and from there we planned a road trip to visit family on the Oregon Coast.

This was going to be our first trip together in my dad’s restored 1968 Travco motor home. It was big enough for us all to ride comfortably.

He spent years restoring it, and loved the opportunity it gave him to share his testimony for Jesus. There’s a video tour of it on youtube, view it here. Where someone came across him on the road in 2020.

On the this trip headed to Oregon we took a detour to see Crater Lake National park.

That day was sunny and beautiful, just a few tourists, no traffic or lines and just before they would close the park and roads for the winter.

However as we headed back down the mountain things turned serious real fast.

The sun was setting and it was beginning to ice up, as we came around a corner the RV started sliding across the road and we lost traction which ended up sending us into a 360 degree spin – next the tires on the passenger side caught the edge of road and sent us into another tailspin..straight for a line of trees.

As the scene unfolded I happened to be seated on the dining bench, just seconds earlier my dads wife stood next to me was thrown to the floor.

One of our children was in the back bedroom being tossed around, my husband who was in the passenger seat was thrown over into the drivers seat on top of my dad.

I had a panoramic view of everything happening both inside and outside. I could even see the impact of a tree coming – this would hit the windshield where my dad and husband were thrown against, it was not looking like a good outcome..

As I watched everything in slow motion. Seconds before impact- all the sudden it was as if we were on a carnival ride that uses centrifugal force. A forward motion now being pushed away with the same force.

But here’s the thing. We didn’t feel it, we saw it .. it was like we were caught and pushed back in the opposite direction gently.

No whiplash, no sudden movements or anything.. and everything went quite.

It felt like a being caught and sat down carefully.

Coming to a complete stop, facing up the mountain, not one tree was hit. No other cars around, even our sons following a short distance behind in another car. They missed the whole thing.

I was a passenger that day.

I was not in control of the situation.

But I saw something that made me more aware of the Heavenly angels who protect us.

I was not able to appreciate being a passenger for a while. Especially after that trip, but here lately I realize as a passenger we are more privileged to see God work rather than be in charge.

This example is a bit extreme but it’s truly a testament to asking the Lord to lead and protect you daily. Which we did and still do.

Yes, there are times when He will allow tragedy to happen not because He doesn’t care but because it’s in the plan.

He always has a plan.

We just need to be a willing passenger.

So my challenge to myself and to you, give the Lord your life. Let Him direct your steps.

Allow Him to show you the truth and walk in it.

You will never be misguided as long as He is the one leading.

“Trust in the Lord completely. Do not think that you understand things well enough for yourself.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬