I have only gone on a drive once before.
The first time I went on a drive was in the fall of 2008.
Now, I must clarify, I don’t mean “going for a drive” as just going out to someplace and back. I’d done that millions of times before when I was getting my driver’s license.
This kind of drive is really best described as just going for a drive. No set destination other than getting home sometime, no set itinerary, nothing. Just going out for a drive on the streets.
Now, where was I?
The first time I went for a drive was in the fall of 2008. I had recently been dumped by my girlfriend, ending a relationship which I will not even begin to describe in terms of how unhealthy it was. Anyway, I went for a drive. No music, nobody else, no phone calls, nothing. Just me, the car, the road, and my thoughts.
Today, I went for a drive again. I could have gone to a party, but my mind was not settled. Today I had been challenged not to “know God,” or “grow close to God,” but instead to experience God.
The person who had challenged me to do this is a good friend of mine. He has wandered Africa and stayed alone, by himself, in the wilderness for six months with nothing to think of, no itinerary, no plans. This friend said that one of the best ways he found to experience God is to just go into the wilderness and wander wherever I felt led.
It was raining today. It’s still actually raining now, as I write this post. Anyway, it made the wilderness not really the best option for tonight, this evening. So I went for a drive.
It took me a little while to get it right, to truly wander. At first I had a spot in mind. I would go there, sit, and think for a little while. Then, after that, I would go to the party.
I often find myself, when I am alone, reverting to a strictly objective centered manner. I think of what I have to accomplish, and then exactly how I accomplish it.
This is not how wandering works.
I drove by the place I was going to sit, and didn’t see any place to park (they must have torn it down or something, it was a small parking lot along a runway for Portland International Airport.). For some reason, I continued on. And then I began to truly wander, no destination, no itinerary. Just wandering. Me, my car, the road, and my thoughts. I went wherever I felt compelled to go, not ruled by any itinerary, clock, or destination.
And it was a wonderful experience.
You should try it.
