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In
high school many of us are blessed enough we get the chance to take
Drivers Ed. This can mean driving around town for a credit in school -
and sometimes getting lunch, or other fun side trips from the normal day
to day.
If
you attended Lee High School in Montgomery Alabama and were also lucky
enough to have Dr. Nix as your instructor... none of this was true.
Drivers ed was the most nerve racking, stressful class you would take all year.
If you cannot tell, I was lucky enough to have this instructor. What was the problem?
Dr. Nix quite literally wrote the book on driving.
I
am not kidding. He would quote from his book, by chapter and
paragraph. It was wild and intimidating to be taught by him - and even
more so in the vehicle itself.
The very first driving day in Dr. Nix's class was called 'Break In Day'.
--
I
was 15 maybe 16 when I was able to finally drive during school, but I
knew it was not going to be fun. I had Dr. Nix, I was one of the few
who were to suffer at the perfection of a man, with for what all we
could tell... a doctorate in Drivers Ed.
My mother was a good teacher and prepared me for much, but I never could have been ready for 'Break In Day'.
As
soon as it was my turn to drive I was confident, but still a little
scared. I did all my checks before moving the car. Dr. Nix was very
particular about getting all your checks done before putting the car it
gear. I began to drive and it was moving along nicely until all of the
sudden Dr. Nix yells out, "Your breaks don't work!"
I
believe I did what any sane person would have done and I slammed on the
breaks sending Dr. Nix, the two passengers, as well as myself flying
slightly forward, but very well protected by our seat belts: Remember, I
did my checks.
Dr.
Nix reaches over, puts the car in park and pulls the keys from the car.
He turns a bit to look towards me and says, "You're dead, you fail."
I was heartbroken. How
could I have failed? ... on the first day no less! What could I have
done better? What was the procedure for dealing with brakes that did not
work? Will I fail tomorrow? Will I be able to drive again? Will my
mother be disappointed?
I had plenty of time to think while the other two in my class received their own fails for the day.
We all likely felt the same. Failures. Worthless, Terrible, No Good Failures.
Dr. Nix had us park on the side of the road and told us something else.
"Now,
Break in day is over. One thing I do, and I only do it on Break In day
- and that is..." We held our breath, " you all passed today - your
fails will not go towards your grade." out came the breaths - and smiles
were shallow, but there. He explained how sometimes things happen when
we are not ready for them, but if we learn properly - we can be ready
next time.
I took the lesson to heart.
--
A
'Break In Day' does not just have to be something in a driver's ed
course. It can be something in your own life. Something that God has
led you through the past you look back on in the hard times. Or
something which showed you the real way things are. The real things you
were, without such an experience, ignorant of.
God prepares us for where HE is calling us to be. God WANTS us to succeed.
--1 Peter 1:3-7New International Version (NIV)Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.--
When
I was in my driver's ed class I was 'shielded' by Dr. Nix. If I were
to begin to make a mistake he had, at least, a way that he could take
control and get us back on track. The shield provided to us by God, is
'oh so much' better than that. OUR faith can hinge it open... or
closed. We must have faith in Him to guide us in truth. To bring us
through the experiences, trials, hurts, and hang ups so that WE can
become someone who is ready, willing, and strong enough to begin to pull
others from the depths.
God's
power is the ultimate power in this, but our faith in Him - in our
sharing of our truths... testimonies do we give God an avenue to work
and shine into the lives of another.
I
struggled for many years with pornography and had it not been for the
power of the Lord and unconditional love of my wife, I would never have
made it to the side where I can say it is not the issue it was in the
past. The power it once held over me has diminished - it has been
replaced for a love and a desire for God, as well as a healthy desire
for my wife.
When
I was in the drivers seat in Dr. Nix class I had to grow to a point of
admitting I was ignorant of many dangers and hazards of the road and
without his 'break in day' and cut throat attitude about driving I doubt
I would be as careful or as safe as I am now.
The same goes for my spiritual life.
The
trials I put myself through because of my sinful desires for
the perversion of nudity and sex were something I thought I could
understand and handle, but the truth is... it is living life without
making your checks which puts you in the position of having your brakes
not work, and everyone with you is going along for the crash of a life
time.
--Proverbs 12:17-22English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit. There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy. No ill befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.--
If
you are in such a place I beg you to not run away, or to give up. What
I encourage you to do is to embrace the truth. Own up to your wrong
doings. If you are married, admit them to your significant other EVERY
time you make them; and if you are single find a friend of the same sex
to admit it to. It will make you into an honest and trustworthy mate.
You will NOT WANT TO look at it any longer because you will be TRAINED to tell on yourself.
While sexual things were my biggest problem I am positive this method will work with any other addiction.
________________________________________________________________
This
blog was formerly posted on either Congruent Culture or Comments on
Christianity - hence the nifty stuff below:
Derek Jordan is a Children's Pastor in his home church, a Drafter to pay the bills, a Music & Book Reviewer (not so much now), and Prestidigitator. He is a Fantasy reader, Whovian, and Gnoming enthusiist. Derek lives in Alabama with his wife and three (four) children.
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