"How's your driving?"

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Last month, I shared a story with you about a recent experience I had driving down the road, staring at my air-conditioning indicator light; trying to make sure it stayed on so I could remain cool. I was a driving hazard to myself and others rather than just getting it fixed.

That story prompted a story through our website at www.listentolife.org from a friend in Honduras. He wrote to say they drive a little differently in Honduras than what I mentioned. What I might consider hazardous driving is pretty common in his part of Honduras—passing on mountain curves, driving at night without any headlights, and they just passed a law prohibiting children from riding in the front passenger seat of a pickup truck…but you can put up to twenty-five children and adults in the back bed of a pickup truck. He seemed to suggest that my driving might fit better in Honduras than in the U.S., you think?

Wherever and however you’re driving today, remember one really important law of the road: Keep your eyes on God who goes ahead of you to prepare the way as you listen to life and make a life, not just a living.

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"Have you put off something just because you haven’t taken the time to think about it?"

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Do you put off something that brings you and your loved ones joy just because you haven’t thought about it? Or don’t have it on your schedule? And are too rigid to depart from it?

I racked my brain, trying to come up with the perfect gift for our anniversary this year. It was our 24th and I didn’t want to sacrifice something nice just because next year is “a big one.” I even asked a friend what she thought. I went to the mall, the jewelry store, but I just couldn’t seem to make something fit.

So I sat down and thought of all of the meaningful times we’d enjoyed. That’s when it hit me. There’s a cabin up in the mountains we’ve always said we wanted to go back to and never had. So I called the proprietor, made reservations for the peak of the autumn leaf colors, created my own certificate telling her what we would do and put it in her anniversary card. She loved it!

What have you been putting off that you’ve said you’ll enjoy with someone special? One of the keys to listening to life and making a life, not just a living is to do these kinds of activities. Ask God to show you the way today.

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"Are you a grumpy early bird or a happy on-time bird?"

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Now I know being on time is important. But you may remember me telling you before that I don’t wear a watch anymore. My car has a clock in it. My phone has a clock on it. My friends wear watches. There are wall clocks everywhere. So I generally stay on time.

One thing I’ve noticed is that some people arrive way ahead of time, just to be early, and then stand around waiting for everyone else to show up. Or, they sit, looking rather grumpy, wandering why others didn’t show up early like they did.

Other people come in right around the time the event is to start or even a couple of minutes after. They waltz in the room, speak to the others, and are ready to go.

As I’m listening to life, it seems to me that the people who aren’t so early, the ones who come in right around time for the event to start are a lot happier than the people who arrive early. The early birds might catch the worms, but the other birds are catching a happier, more satisfied life. Which are you?

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"Are you up for something new?"

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A friend shared a story through our website at www.listentolife.org about learning to fly. He didn’t learn to make a career of it or even to fly full-time as he hasn’t been up in several years. For him it was about the challenge of trying something new.

He still remembers the first time his instructor hopped out and said, “Take it up for three landings. I’ll be on the radio if you need me.” His heart raced. He felt uncertainty building. But after his first touchdown, his confidence built more greatly than anything.

He loves seeing the world from above, not high up like in a commercial jet. Just high enough to see people wave and cheer as you pass by their homes and fields.

Risk and reward are closely tied together in life. When you try something new, when you jump out of your box of familiarity and launch to where God calls you, the reward is seeing the world like you’ve never seen it before. So try something new today as you listen to life and make a life, not just a living.

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"As you’re walking through life, do you look back?"

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Our older daughter recently flew to London to study for a semester abroad through her university’s invitation. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for her.

Frankly our family had a rather tearful farewell with her in the airport. The prospect of not seeing her at all for three months was somewhat sad. My wife and younger daughter wanted to wait until she cleared security and customs so we did. We strained our necks and my wife stood in a chair to watch as our daughter’s bags were opened and examined. She went through with no problems of course and having cleared, she walked on towards her gate.

My wife said, “She didn’t even look back and wave good-bye!”

I reminded her, “Honey, she didn’t look back the day she walked into her kindergarten classroom. Why should she start now?”

And you really shouldn’t either. Looking back constantly keeps you from joyfully stepping into the wonderful future God prepares for you.

So keep looking forward into the fantastic new day God’s preparing for you as you listen to life and make a life, not just a living today.

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