I've been on the World Race for 9 full months now and I've ridden many unique modes of transportation. I've been crammed into vans with more people than you thought imaginable. I have sat comfortably in buses thanking God for the extra space. I have stood in between ancient babushkas and crying children. I have ridden through the streets of Thailand on the back of motortaxis. I have been carted around in what appears to be a carriage attached to a motorcycle.
But nothing will beat the motortaxi ride of terror in Kampala, Uganda.
It started out just like any other ride. I was seated in between our driver and Rachel anticipating what should have been a normal ride to the taxi park. The first few minutes progressed as expected. He drove a little too fast. Traffic seemed to be without rhyme or reason.
Then things changed.
It started to get dark. My grip on Rachel's leg steadily increased as I was sure we would end up smashed against any one of the number of cars flying past at extraordinary speed. At one point, my knee grazed a parked car on our left as we maneuvered through a gap one would be hesitant to walk through, much less drive.
My prayers gained momentum when our driver saw an opening between two semi-trucks. Please keep in mind, that we are actively moving through two giant trucks that are also moving at unpredictable speeds with even less predictable direction.
Finally, we begin to near the taxi park and our driver slows some. However, he is not slowing by choice. He is slowing by necessity. There are people everywhere. They are walking on the sidewalk, on the street, between the cars and anywhere else they can fit in a few steps. All I can think of is how many times I've been warned that Kampala is not a safe city and how many of these people could easily steal our stuff or us.
As scary as it was, the Christian life is not a safe one.
I got to thinking about the motortaxi of life. When we hop on the taxi behind God, it can be really scary. Often we are squeezed between giant problems sure that nothing good can come of the situation. Sometimes, we get bruised on the way.
There are times in my Christian life that I am sure that I have chosen the wrong path for my life. Sometimes, I am sure that God is taking me in the wrong direction. There are times that I think I'm going to die.
Then there are other people. They push and pull at you. Some of them try to take things from you. They make you feel venerable and in danger. Then there is that person that is on the ride with you. There are other Christians that encourage you and keep you on the ride knowing that your driver is God and he has everything under control.
And here is the key….. God is your driver.
When God is your driver, you cannot fail. He won't take you places that will destroy you. He won't get you lost and cause you to wander around the city. God knows where he is going and he knows the best way for you to get there. All along the way, you find trust for him as he consistently keeps you from becoming a hood ornament for a passing car.
Trust God. Get on the motortaxi of life. Even though it is scary, God will lead you to a fulfilled life.
