The passenger

As a kid, you go with the flow. Sure you might not love the decisions your parents, teachers, or leaders make for you but by and large, you can sit back and let things happen and your needs will be met.

That's all well and good when you're 8 years old.

But at what point do you stop being passive, allowing others to chart the course of your life?

There's no cue.
There's no obvious transition.

When you're born, your parents are in the driver's seat. You can't do anything for yourself and so you grow up completely dependent on others for every one of your needs.

As you grow, some of that responsibility might shift to a mentor or members of your peer group.

But when does that end?
When should it end?

Many of the people I've come to know over the course of my life have never really outgrown this middle stage.

They are content to let other people drive and choose to remain passengers.

Most of us have an aversion to responsibility.

It's easier to defer to someone else who fills the role of leader. That way if things don't go your way, you can just blame the leader.

When you recognize that you're not a passenger in your own life and that it's up to you to make the decisions and choices that determine where you end up, it comes with incredible freedom... and a whole lot of responsibility.

You can't continue to blame the "driver" for the consequences of your life choices. You can't blame your parents, or your boss, or the government.

It's on you.
You're the one at wheel.
You're the one calling the shots.

So what'll it be?

What choices have you been needing to make but are deferring responsibility to someone who has no business being in the driver's seat of your life?

Pray for wisdom.
Pray for discernment.
And then take action!

I loved the book Just Do Something^(paid) by Kevin Deyong. It's been a while since I first read it but it left me with the comforting reassurance that if we ask God for wisdom, we know it's in line with his character to give it to us... and he will.

So if we've brought our plans and requests before God and trust that he will guide our thoughts and actions, then it's time to move.

Time to stop blaming others.
Time to stop playing the victim.

It's time to pull over, get into the driver's seat... and go.