Driving with Boris
When I was in high school, I took Driver’s Ed. The gym teacher was our instructor and we met in the old wrestling room. It was a dingy room that smelled of ancient sweat. I remember sitting at my desk with a nervous energy. The thought of driving with an instructor felt intimidating.
We spent the first few classes going over driving rules and watching horrific traffic accidents on VHS tapes the AV team set up on the TV roll away cart. Most of the other kids looked confident like they had been hot wiring cars since the 6th grade while I stressed over how to differentiate between my right and left.
In a few short weeks we were paired up to drive with the instructor. Before we got our driving assignments, I had an accident while walking on the icy driveway and dislocated my shoulder. I came to class with my right arm strapped to my body in a sling for our first driving lesson. It turned out I was paired up with the Foreign exchange student, Boris. He was at the wheel first as we drove downtown, known for its overabundance of one-way streets. The instructor handed me a paper map of the city and commanded me to navigate the young foreign driver to the public library.
I panicked as I held the map with my one free hand trying to quickly call out directions.
RIGHT here! I called at the last instant as I pinpointed the street name.
Instructor, “Wrong way on a one way.”
“Sorry I meant LEFT.”
Shaking his head, he said, “Don’t you know how to read a map?
Underneath my breath I grumbled, “Not helping, “RIGHT” up here at the corner.”
The Instructor corrected Boris, “Wrong side of the road.”
The confused foreign exchange student replied, “Sorry Sir, I am from Germany.”
Next it was my turn, just think of me as the one-armed bandit. I slowly tried to buckle myself in but after about 5 minutes my instructor gave a heavy sigh and reached over to click the belt in place. I looked down to see the long brake across the floorboard so the instructor could stop me if I made a horrible error.
The Instructor, clip board in hand, spoke quickly as I started the car, “Check your mirrors, know your blind spots. Hands at 10 and 2.”
I looked at him helplessly with only my left hand stretched out over the wheel like a 1990’s rap guy on an MTV music video.
The Instructor smiled, “Well, I guess you could just put your one hand at 12:30.”
He laughed at his joke as I felt my face grow hot. Boris looked out the window pretending to be fascinated by something like a huge flamingo landing on the fire hydrant across the street. Meanwhile the gym teacher/instructor sighed heavily regretting his life choices.
“Proceed when you are ready.”
I’d like to say my driving was better than the foreign exchange student’s, but I found it hard to understand his directions through his heavy accent. Somehow, we made it back to the school in one piece, but I felt frazzled. I don’t know how the teacher seem unfazed by the inexperience of his trainees. Intense anxiety plagued me with doubt. How would I get through the class without failing?
In life it is hard to navigate new situations. We often feel like the map that is given is merely someone else’s advice. If you just follow these 3 easy steps than you will succeed. I struggled to read the map in the back seat of the driver’s Ed vehicle, but that was a piece of cake compared to navigating through the twists and turns of life. How often have I turned the wrong way just to have to turn back around?
I am now 48 years old. When I look in the mirror, I see the lines age has brought. I see the silver running through my once brown curls. I also see the road I have walked.
The very year I took Driver’s Ed I began to go to church. This decision would lead me to a life map that would direct my steps toward helping others. The more I surrounded myself with the people of God the more I wanted to surrender my life to God. I wanted to trust Jesus Christ to lead my life instead of trying to lead myself.
To surrender all, I decided to go to bible college. I felt directed toward music ministry, because I was a strong singer and knew the power of music to help people. After 4 years of bible college I had met and married my husband and started the ministry of worship.
25 years later I don’t regret the journey. There is peace when I consider the young girl who decided to follow Jesus. Life has had many twists and turns. I have many stories to share, and that is why I am here now.
How many times have I had to start over? When it comes to writing I have not been able to cover up, conceal, or pretend; therefore, I suffered a major writer’s block. It came to a point of doubting I could ever pick up the pen again, but here I am.
Like the young girl struggling to read the map from the backseat with one arm in a sling. My path has not been perfect. I cannot say I have all the answers, but I am willing to share my life with you.
Together, may we find our way.