Parable Road #3 (Why?)

The highway stretches out before me.

I am alone on this road of shadows.

That is an advantage of driving through the early morning hours. The traffic is light and I can make some good headway.

I need to make of the time I lost getting my brake line fixed at that truck stop. Thank God they had a replacement in stock.

The hum of whirring tires is constant. The sound is like a lullaby, tempting me to enter the world of sleep. I blink my eyes rapidly as I fight this urge. Then, I crank open the window.

The cool air flowing over my face helps to keep me focused.

I need to stay awake.

The load I’m hauling needs to arrive in the morning.

The events of the past run through my mind.

The trip through the mountains was more dramatic than usual. But, I have faith that Paul will be okay.

He got off track in his life. But, I know him. There may well be a confrontation with his father. But, his father is a fair and forgiving man. I’m sure it’ll work out.

I wonder how those two women I met are doing.

I did what I could but I couldn’t stick around, I had to head out on this trip.

I wish the people in that Church I had visited would have been willing to take a more active role in helping solve the problems lurking just outside their stained glass windows.

Why weren’t they the ones helping those two women?

Why didn’t they want to talk to me?

Am I that bad? Just because I have a job driving a truck?

I know it’s not that glamorous but it pays the bills.

Is it the way I look?

I know that I don’t dress as well as some people. I don’t even own a suit. If I did, would they accept me then?

Is it that I’m not smart enough?

I’m not that educated. I went to grade eight and got my GED diploma later on. I had to work hard to get that diploma too. I’m just not that good at bookwork. But, is that enough reason to shun people like me?

Goodness! I jerk myself awake.

That was a close call.

The wind blasting through the window doesn’t seem to be enough to keep me awake. I need more stimulation. I reach over to turn on the radio.

The classic sounds of CCR serenade me as the road continues flowing past my window.

A singer is wailing about a bad moon rising…huh. Is it that bad?

The light of the moon looks beautiful to me.

Still, I do feel an ache of pain inside. It hurts to experience rejection from people who say that they are in touch with God Himself.

Why are Church people so mean sometimes?

I have often wrestled with that question.

Hmmm. I see a sign saying only twenty more kilometers. Soon, I’ll be at my destination. Soon, I’ll be able to climb into the bunk behind me.

I just need to stay awake a little while longer.

My mind returns to the question. Why are Church people so mean sometimes?

There is so much beauty in nature. I have seen much of it in my travels. Such beauty couldn’t arise by chance. I believe this. I also believe that the one who created such beauty must be good.

Why don’t the people who say they are in touch with the Creator reflect that same sort of goodness?

I see the glowing white of the moon. I see the million points of light sparkling in the sky above me. The splendor of it all shows me that there is more to this life than the darkness that cloaks this world.

Yes, there is much more.

I have to focus my mind on higher things.

It’s funny, but…when I do that…when I look beyond myself. When I look to the Creator of beauty…it changes my perspective. Betrayal still hurts. People still hurt me. But I know that there is more to life than pain.

There is still beauty in the universe and where there is beauty, there is hope.

It doesn’t help to focus on other people and all the bad things they do. Believing in those people won’t grant me salvation anyway.

I need to place my faith in something better…in something higher.

I can see what the Creator has done.

I can see the sun rising over the horizon.

I know what I am supposed to do.

The Creator has shown me grace…what else can I do but show that same grace to other people?

What I can do may not be much. But, even one small point of light makes a difference in a sky full of darkness. And, when one small point of light is joined by others, it can make all the difference in the world.

The buildings of the city are just ahead, glistening in the yellow light of dawn. I turn the steering wheel. Guiding my big rig onto the traffic circle that will lead me downtown.

I blink rapidly. Keeping my eyes open is getting harder by the moment…I hope I can make it to where I need to go….