Parable Road #11 (Distractions)

“Well, Harvey, I had my doubts.”

Harvey laughs. “So, did I Ben.”

“But I’ll have to admit, you’re turning out to be a pretty good driver.”

“What can I say? I’ve been doing my best.”

“I can tell. It’s been a pretty uneventful trip and that’s the way I like it.”

“Thank you.”

“Turn that radio down a bit for a minute.”

Harvey looks puzzled. “Oh, is something wrong?”

“Shh. Just listen for a minute.”

As if on cue, a constant squealing sound begins filling the truck cab. It’s not overwhelming. It’s sort of like a mosquito. A constant hum. Not overwhelming but still obvious enough to be a nuisance.

“What is that?” Harvey asks with alarm plain on his grizzled face.

“I don’t know.”

“Where did it come from?”

“That’s why you need to keep the distractions down. If you don’t, you’ll miss something important.”

“Should I pull over?”

“No, it isn’t too bad. We can check it when we stop anyway. It’s not much longer.”

A variety of farms and fields line the highway we’re traveling on. I’m almost home. It’s been a long haul.

We’re two truck drivers who’ve been through a lot and we look like it.

“I suppose this is it,” Harvey says as we round a corner and a small gas station comes into sight.

“I suppose it is.”

“It’s not too late to change your mind you know.”

I sigh. “No, thanks, I’ve had enough of the mountains.”

“I can’t say I enjoy them either.” Harvey laughs. “I like to see my family though. So, I’ll stay where I am.”

“Well, it was good while it lasted.”

“I’m sorry I made you shovel up the mountain that day…I just…I just…”

“You just had the truck in too high of a gear and it stalled out. It’s happened to us all.”

“I understand, keep the distractions down.”

“Or you’ll miss something important,” I finish. “Don’t worry. You’ll do fine.”

The truck slows and turns into the gravel parking lot of the gas station. I can see the distinctive yellow Crown Victoria in the parking lot. I can see my wife sitting in the passenger seat and my heart skips a beat. I’ve been waiting to see her for so long.

“Thank you, Ben, you really helped me become a better driver in this short time we’ve known each other.”

“To be honest, I wish that you’d see things my way in other areas as well…”

“Ben, I said I’ve come to respect you as a driver. But, I just can’t believe as you believe.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. I’ve just seen too much…”

“Harvey, I told you, you need to keep the distractions down.”

“Or I’ll miss something important,” Harvey repeats. “I know, I know.”

The truck comes to a smooth stop.

“There’s a world full of small things that squeal for our attention. Don’t get caught up in all that racket. Think bigger. ”

“Ha. That’s easy for you to say. You don’t know where I’ve been and what I’ve done.”

“It’s not about where you’ve been and all the hurts you’ve suffered. It’s about where you could go and all the big things that God could do through you.”

“Through me?” Harvey laughs. “You have more faith than I do.”

“Give it a try. You never know what might happen.”

“You did your best Ben, that’s all I can say.”

“Well, alright.” I wish I could say something that would persuade him. But, I see in his hard blue eyes that he’s had enough of this discussion. “Let’s see what was making all that noise.”

“Yes, please.”

Together, Harvey and I examine the wheels of the truck. As we examine one that seemed to be the source of the noise, I strike the rim with a hammer, and a small pebble falls out.

“See that! There’s the problem.”

Harvey shakes his head. “Who knew something so small could make so much noise.”

“That happens sometimes, pebbles get stuck back in there and start squealing. You won’t have any peace until you get rid of them. Well, that one is gone at least,” I say as I reach out to shake Harvey’s hand. “All the best.”

“Same to you.” Harvey pauses. “Who knows, maybe we’ll meet again out there somewhere.”

“Maybe.” I sigh as waves of tiredness wash over me. “Well, it’s time to go. My ride is waiting.”

“Goodbye Ben,” Harvey says, and then he turns away and heads back toward the truck.

I feel a sense of relief as I move toward the car my wife is sitting in.

I’ll be assigned a new driver, a new truck, and a new route going east. So, who knows what will happen then? I may have jumped out of the frying pan into the fire. But, I won’t worry about that now. Now, I’m about to enjoy a few days off.

I can’t wait.

To be continued…