Wheels

My daughters are the athletes, I am from the old school. Jennifer had an early morning meeting so I offered to get the kids off to school and hang out with baby Molly. When things settled down, and the kids were off, I wanted to take Molly for a walk but I couldn't find the standard stroller, the one that the car seat clicks into, but the jogging stroller was just outside the door. I remember using the jogging stroller with Jamie's kids but it had surely been a while. Both girls were pretty dependent on them when the babies were little, because they were always outdoors, walking or jogging. I on the other hand was quite content with the four wheeler. Today, I had no choice. And it really was surprisingly a much smoother ride. A little bulkier maybe, but it took the bumps with a much more forgiving ride.
Then I started analyzing it, and it occurred to me that the wheels on the jogging stroller were much bigger, and even thought there were only three of them, it seemed more balanced than the standard four wheeler. Then I considered the actual space for the baby, and she seemed more comfortable and even though it cradled her she had a little more moving room.

And then it hit me, the analogy. Better to ride on the three wheels of God, the Father and Holy Spirit than to add me as a fourth. They have a grander presence, make for a stronger and more balanced ride. And believe it or not, when I am dependent on these three I have more freedom to move from place to place, because I know that where I am driven I am meant to be. There were some pretty big bumps on the walking path, just as there are big bumps in life, sidewalk obstacles, but it still performed just great, and took the bumps in stride, without hesitation or vacillation.

I don't know about you but I do have a tendency to try to tell God how he should be running things and what he should do with this or that situation. But in thinking this stroller analogy through, I am merely a fourth wheel, and a small one at that who gives pause to the ride and gets in the way of big wheel action. If I would only just sit back and ride with God and be content to go in the direction he wants me to go, gliding on the wheels of his wisdom and direction through Christ and the whispers of the Holy Spirit, I could pretty much bet that my ride would go without a glitch even in the chaos of buckled sidewalks.

Next time you see a baby in a stroller, consider this: four wheels is a better ride than no wheels but three wheels is where you get the greatest ride of all. We are all babies in the eyes of our Lord, and he has offered to strap us in and take us on the ride of our lives. We can choose to accept his invitation, or throw a fit of rebellion and refuse to ride, he has given us that choice. But after steering the three wheeler, I learned that it is much easier to navigate the path, absorb the shocks, roll in balance, and glide to my next destination, if I stay connected to the three wheels that are carrying me.

Just think for a minute if you interchanged the command "Go" to "Roll"

Matthew 28:19
Therefore "go" and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Dear Lord, It was just another little reminder that we roll best when we are riding on the trusted wheels of your way. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!