Car Talk

On one hand hold the thought that being alone in a car is a unmeasurable blessing. One is in charge of where, when, and in what order. On the other hand is the drawn forth chuckle at how many clowns can be fitted in one car, the uncountable amount tumbling out in amazing hilarity. Land in the middle and remember conversations that have happened only because togetherness was enforced for a time.

My earliest memory is traveling to school with my daddy. He taught at the college and my grades were in a building a short walk from his office. An old stick shift Chevrolet could seat two people up front, no age required seatbelts. He kept his eye on the road and made statements I needed to pay attention to for the day: when he would pick me up after school, did I have all my work done, do what the teacher asked, don’t get in trouble at recess. The last comment was always, “See ya later.”

Driving to San Antonio for various visits after a marriage moved in an arc. David and I had getting used to each other conversations that circled around before settling in an agreeable place. Adding each child created a new adjustment from tending to needs of a baby to settling squabbles in the back seat to bringing out songs and games for entertainment on the way. Then there were the years which provided information invaluable to parents known as car pool time. Add three or four teenagers to a car and the driver becomes invisible. The stress of these years was learning to file away the revelations until the best moment to add to a discussion.

Now I drive alone in a distance from home limit. For longer distances, I depend on others to be a driver and their accepting me as a passenger. Yet within these trips, friendships are nourished. We catch up on how changes in each of our families have played out. We find out that strengths one of us called on to meet some challenge were also used by the other. We can come back to those emotional and spiritual foundations that built our friendship in a long ago beginning.

The Bible’s admonitions were before Henry Ford, and yet conversations have had directions since Eden. So keep these in mind for various times. Agree on a time to be together. Build one another up. Be thankful. Encourage each other. Conversation will flow from where you are and what you are sharing together.

 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

Luke 25:14 – 15