We travel through life at such a breakneck speed that we forget to slow down and enjoy who and what we have around us. Many go through their whole lives in such a manner tied up with the superficial, but we need to understand to cherish certain moments in our lives, because life does not wait, slow down or stop. We make certain mistakes in our lives which seem to put us on the fast lane of highway to hell, and what we all need to understand is that everyone does make mistakes, and even the best intentions do not always equal the best actions. Something about a full tank of gas and no where to go is pure bliss for many people, whether they are a part of car culture or not. Many cope with the unrelenting struggles of life in different ways, but what many of us have in common is that we usually go on a drive. It is hard to describe that how, no matter what is happening, whether family, friends or work related, just getting into any vehicle and going out has kind of nirvana-ish cue to it.
Throughout our lifetime, we are going to have to negotiate speed bumps in life. Sometimes these speed bumps will be relatively small and easily traversed, but other times in your life you will hit a speed bump so large that it will jar your whole life, let alone the foundation of your suspension. I mean what your faith is based on. For these moments in life, for myself and many alike, taking a drive slow or fast is what keeps us sane. This disconnect from the world helps us clear our minds, level our emotions and most importantly get away from the stresses and be relaxed for once. No matter if you choose to go fast or slow, on or off pavement, or straight or sideways, everything in the world is OK for those precious minutes leading hours that you are out blazing new roads or taking a familiar cruise.
We are all guilty of the simple pleasure of singing along to our music in our car. Some of us sound like Whitney Houston in her prime, and others like a dying animal. No matter what you are struggling with, all of it seems to wash away when that one song starts coming through your speakers while you are on the open road.
Something about rolling with the windows down and singing along to Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” makes everything wrong in the world simply disappear for a brief period of time. Everyone is fighting a battle, and to combat this we try to be there for each other, but many of us know there are times we need to be alone, regain our composure and, most importantly, learn. Music is written into our personalities, and no matter the genre you choose to listen to, it brings back memories and lessons we have learned over the years. Something I have noticed is that as music progresses and songs make and leave charts, it is somewhat of a history chart. Certain songs brings back certain memories from the past, good and bad, but shows us we have survived through all of it.
While the growl of a cammed LS1 or the scream of a turbo diesel is very much a necessity for us gear heads, something I have noticed is that it really does not matter the vehicle you are driving when you are out on a cruise, just that you are out. It could be your Mother’s minivan or the old beat up truck in your barn -- when you are behind the wheel, you are are in total control of the vehicle, and this brings a sense of control back into your life. Rolling down the roads, whether through the winding the roads of the Chattahoochee National Forest to labyrinth we call Gainesville, there is no telling where we will end up. Cruising helps immensely when you have a lot on your mind because there is nothing but open road, and you control where and when you go.
Sometimes, you will end up in a different county or state if you are out that long. One of the best ways to make decisions is with a level mind and emotions. If not, you will let emotions run with your decision making, which is not always the right way to deal with certain situations, and something driving has to offer is that you get out all the frustration and sadness before making life decisions, at least in my case. Whether you are out to figure out life’s problems or out to clear your mind, driving offers many attributes to help you through struggles, not matter the issue. These issues can span from break-ups to losses in faith, but something that you should always stick with is that God has a plan for all of us. It might seem like this chapter in your life is never ending, but that is far from the truth -- just keep driving on, and what is in your rear view is what made you into the person you are today.
“The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.” Job 17:9
