When I was a boy, my grandfather and father used to let me help with the steering and driving while seated on their laps in the car. I thought, at the time, that was a great thinglearning to drive. I am not sure they thought of the dangers of that. It was just something that was done. We had no seatbelts at the time, either. When I would go to the farm, my grandpa Smith would let me drive the tractor. I was always thrilled when he would tell me to go get the tractor or let me drive it while we were working.

As my boys were growing up, I did the same thing, probably because my grandfather and father did - not realizing the danger to the family or others.

When our boys got their licenses to drive, I reminded them that when they were behind the wheel, they had the lives of everyone else in the car in their hands. That is a sobering perspective of the responsibility taken on by a driver. Not only that, but, when we are riding with someone else, our willingness to go with them is a sign of trust in their ability to get us safely to our destination.

Thinking of all these things reminded me of the verse: "O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps." (Jeremiah 10:23)

Are we allowing God to remain in the driver's seat?

I have come to realize, as I have gotten older, that I cannot go through life without a sense of direction and having God there to guide me. If we will allow God to remain in control, we can know that He will lead us "in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:24) -1036 Greenland Circle, South Charleston, WV 25309.

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