Many a mile was spent in the back seat of my parent’s car going to visit
relatives. The trips were relatively short, mostly to Grandma’s, and they were
a total of 60 miles one way. Travelling old Route 22, at one time the only
route between New York City and the Midwest states of Ohio and Indiana, it was
stoplight after stoplight going west. A curious road, for as you got closer to
New York City, and the traffic increased, it went from three lanes to two,
causing traffic jams, bigger than the ones already inspired by too many cars and
not enough road. But going west to Pennsylvania, our destination, it was wide
open after 20 miles, opening up to a bucolic countryside, just the opposite of
the urban sprawl that dominated the New York Metro area. It was the days of 360
degree air, all windows opened, no stops for ice cream or a potty break, and no
fuel stops required. For the next 60 minutes, like the voice on The Outer Limit
warned, my Dad had control of our set, and our viewing. So from the back seat
of their Ramblers, we got bored, and my sister and I fought like any bored
siblings, many times crossing over the imaginary line, “he’s on my side,” until
my mother started playing word games with us, which quickly expired. Even at 10
and 7, your vocabulary is strained. So she devised looking for out of state
plates, who would see more. Then the farthest one from New Jersey. Then
different color cars to match the associated plates, then onto trucks as we got
bored. Then onto landmarks, first one to see a giant man holding a muffler,
first HoJo’s, first red barn, and then largest barn, different colored VW’s,
referred to as Herbies, and the list went on. A far cry from kids with their
faces buried in a cell phone, or adults too, it provided conversation,
attentiveness, and the time passed rather quickly. But this idea of course was
not original....
Back in the 1930’s, the Depression Era, a man came up with a company that
made Bingo cards to do what we did verbally. Sold by the thousands, and today,
even with the advent of social media, the company still sells upwards of half a
million a year. And of course they now have an app, but can be found for
purchase in Cracker Barrel restaurants. Marketed under the name of Auto Bingo,
they actually include four different games, and different colored cards.
Interstate orange, safety blue, and autos, green and pink. It seems hands on is
still the best way to play, and kids today with cool parents can play along with
them. Now from blue Ramblers to white VW’s to green Chevies, you can search the
roads for a car and its color, keeping you alert and from complaining. You can
look for an Exxon, Shell, or Texaco to get your bingo card filled, prizes up to
the parents, but still the thrill of victory. Nothing beats winning. And
anyone can play. From riding in the back seat, to riding shotgun, to the nut
behind the wheel, all can play! Maybe the most fun you can have as a kid from
the back seat. Pre teen that is. But even then you can play, consider it the
original safe sex. All from the safety of your back seat. And if you must, you
can always use the app. But what fun would that be, remember the fun of filling
your Bingo card? Then dumping all the pieces? Today you just hit
delete...
And so life can be like the ride to Grandma’s or wherever. Boring without
point other than the spoiling you get when you get there. But the trip you
endure is what you remember most. And the games played, whether you won or
lost. Job faced a similar situation, when first tested by God. Not a travel
game per se, but asking “why was I born?” And finding in his misery, reasons he
wished he hadn’t. He cannot change the day, and cursed it, but doesn’t curse
God. It seems the situation is ruling over him, and it will get worse. Like
the awful sibling that hits your card causing your to spill it when you were
about to win, he finds no joy in the trip of life. He sees no value in his
life, and wishes it to end. To go home. To have it stricken from history, as
if he never existed. He hadn’t planned on unexplained trouble, so he curses the
day he was born, because that was where it all started. All the winnings, the
good times, and the blessings are forgotten, even if momentarily in his misery.
But life is not a game to be played, yet we are competitive people, and we hate
losing. Or worse, getting beaten. And worse yet, no being under control. All
things Job faced, and we do, even if it is a silly game of finding the first red
Ford, or the first motorcycle. We want to win....
Last night the Packers were about lose, when a defensive penalty gave them
one last play from 61 yards away. Without the penalty, they would have lost,
game over, but on a Hail Mary pass, they won. No time on the clock, you cannot
end the game on a defensive penalty, time had run out. But the game went on,
under the rules, the Lions losing. All because of a penalty when the game would
have been over otherwise. We will face trials like Job did, and like the games
we watch. Jesus promised us there will be tribulation, if your faith wavers,
and you have trials, they can be a great faith builder. It is in tough times
that we draw closer to him. But it takes Jesus in your life to win. Life is
more than a game to pass time, to win one day and lose the next. It is played
like a marathon, to win. And at the end, the finish is what counts. Not what
we accomplished or didn’t. Not how many Bingo cards we filled, or blue Chevies
seen, or Hondas passed. It is who we say Jesus is, and when we let the spirit
guide us, we will win. God doesn’t promise to take us around our problems, he
does promise to take us through them. At one point Job even asked God to take
him home, but he didn’t give up on him. For even when life looked absolutely
hopeless, he knew God well enough that God had everything under control. And he
still does today. He calls it love, we forget that sometimes.
It is in the tough times we build the best testimonies. Seeing the elusive
green Plymouth sticking out from behind the drive in just may give you the
victory. Being given a final chance after the whistle blows can bring victory.
All planned by God, for your benefit. But what about the ones you beat? Well,
it taught me to look for cars behind buildings, and in parking lots, not just
what was in front of me. It taught me to seek Jesus, and forego religion,
playing life by God’s rules rather than man’s. The Lions will never forget the
penalty, and realize the game isn’t over until it’s over, eve after the final
whistle has blown and time has run out. We all play the game of life to win,
whether on a 100 yard field or from the back seat of a sedan. And only in God
will we win the final prize, heaven.
God is always at work in our suffering. He never fails. Right now he is
at work taking you through your trouble. Are you listening? He may be pointing
out things you may have overlooked. Or have forgotten. Look to him, not the
situation. Where your eyes go, your body will follow. So look to Jesus, and
hang on for the ride of your life. You will not always ride in the back seat,
some day you may find yourself behind the wheel or handlebars. And the
perspective of the ride will change, but don’t give up on the destination. When
we arrive it will all be worth it. Home is where Job asked God to take him, and
God answered, but with a different route than Job had planned. Life it seems
will interfere with our plans. Job had along ride ahead, so do we. The one who
guides you will make all the difference.
“Hey look, a green and white AMC behind the A&W...I win!” And the next
game begins....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com