Responsibility
By Eric Abney
When I was 15 my Dad found the coolest car for me. It was a 1979 Z28 Camaro. When I turned 16 my Dad would let me drive the car to school and to work. I remember one of the first places I drove was a high school football game. It felt amazing. One night I was coming home from a retail store and I got behind someone going 50 miles an hour. Well clearly the speed limit was 55 and I was in an incredible car that wanted to go faster. I got to a place in the road just before a bridge and I went for it. I punched it and pulled into the other lane. About the time the first half of my car was in line with the rear half of the car in front of me a strange thing happened. There was a small dip in the road ahead only large enough to hide someone’s headlights for a few moments and as I was passing this car all of a sudden I saw headlights rise above the dip in the road much like the sun rises into view above the horizon. We were headed for a head-on collision. I completely freaked out and slammed on the brakes. I jerked my wonderful gold Camaro to the right and began to spin out of control. I ran over someone’s mailbox and found myself on the side of the road facing the wrong way. To my right I saw the people who had been headed straight for me. They were pulled over, but not for long. They pulled away as soon as I looked over. I’m sure they were thinking, “We need to get out of here before this drunk guy goes nuts and tries to chase us down.” I pulled into the driveway of the folks whose mailbox was lying in the middle of the road. I threw it in the ditch and went and told them I was sorry and I would be back tomorrow to fix the mailbox and post.
I drove home in shock and disbelief. I could not believe this had happened to me. I thought God was out to get me, like He was trying to make a teenager’s life hell so I would fully live for Him. I was upset and angry. What was interesting to me is what I said to my father when I got home that night. I pulled into the driveway late and my Dad came out to meet me. I knew I had to tell him. He was going to see the car anyway. My words to him were, “Dad, God just isn’t blessing me right now.”
I think it’s interesting how we pull God into things. Let’s be honest, this wasn’t God’s fault, this was my fault. I pulled into the lane to pass. I freaked out and mishandled the car. If anything God had protected me from killing myself or someone else. It’s just it didn’t feel like it at the time. Feelings are a big deal and they deserve to be acknowledged, but we can’t simply act on how we feel, we must choose to respond. I needed to take responsibility for what I had done. In this case God was concerned about my safety, not wrecking my car to talk me into living for Him.
In some way have you shrugged off your responsibility onto God so you wouldn’t have to deal with it? Think about it. Maybe it’s time to stand up and stop saying “that’s God’s fault” and start saying, “You know what, I am responsible for that. It’s my fault. I am to blame.” Taking responsibility allows us to be honest. When we are honest we become free. When we are honest we have more intimacy with this loving God that truly protects us. What is it that you are responsible for today?
Be Challenged and Live Adventurously,
-Eric
