Spiritual Life on the Freeway
Driving on a freeway reminds me of how we live into spiritual life.
This weekend I am driving back and forth to serve as a spiritual director at a conference. The conference is in Azusa, which is closer to the mountains than to the ocean. People in Southern California tend to refer to Azusa as “way out east somewhere.”
California is not where I learned to drive, but it is where I learned about driving on freeways. I get into the car and start reflecting on how my trips to Azusa and back are like our spiritual journeys.
People tend to drive the way they live their lives. Some of us take things easy, accepting what happens and enjoying the ride. Other people are running late, looking for opportunities to make up a minute or two. There are people who fill their cars with distractions like food or music or things to read. A few of us do not really know where we are going and depend on a navigation app.
Some people enjoy driving while others are anxious about what could go wrong.
We practice freeway disciplines the same way we practice spiritual disciplines.
Dealing With Distractions
Spiritual life can be filled with distractions and opportunities to deal with them.
Driving on the freeway is a treasure trove of ways to be distracted. The sun may be in our eyes or it could be raining. You never know what any of the other drivers might do. There must be some reason everyone is slowing down.
Some of us create our own distractions. We might need to eat while we are driving, or change our music. There are people who drive on automatic pilot and think about other things. The conversation or the argument we just had can distract our attention.
Distractions can weaken our awareness of spiritual life and of how we drive.
Awareness of the Present Moment
Being aware is significant in spiritual life and in driving on the freeway.
Awareness is how we stay in touch with what is going on within and around us. Each moment carries challenges and opportunities of its own. We may become stuck in what has already happened, or afraid of what might happen next. Thinking about the past or the future can make us less aware of the present.
Our awareness does not necessarily need to be focused or even conscious. Despite our distractions, we are aware when the brake lights in front of us flash. Whether we want to or not, we need to respond.
Even with everything going on around us, our awareness puts us in touch with deeper truths. Each moment contains lessons for us to learn and apply.
Slowing Down
Spiritual life on the freeway is often about slowing down.
I like to go fast. Partly it is wanting to arrive at a destination more than appreciating the trip. I also like how it feels to go faster, unencumbered by obstacles. Going fast feels more free than going slow.
Going faster is a large part of why we take the freeway instead of the “scenic route.”
When we drive on the freeway slowing down is usually more important than going faster. Speeding up may feel better, but it is often more urgent for us to slow down.
The truth is I do not really want to slow down. My awareness of myself and what is going on around me help me avoid running into some one else. As I set aside distractions and become aware, I recognize slowing down is also important for me.
Slowing down is a result of my letting go of my expectations of myself.
As I recognize what I expect of myself is unrealistic and unhealthy I take a deep breath. Pausing for a fresh breath helps me slow down and relax. Slowing down helps change our journey from a race to a pilgrimage.
Knowing the Right Exit
When we drive on the freeway it is helpful to know where we are going. Our electronic navigator can make a significant contribution, but we need to tell it where to go.
We may miss our exit if we are distracted, unsure of where we are, or going too fast. It becomes helpful to understand our alternatives.
Sometimes the exit we want is not very well marked. Our awareness and knowledge is essential to our ability to find our exit. It can help to have someone with us who is experienced and can relate to the challenges we face.
On the Spiritual Freeway
Taking the freeway can be intimidating. We never know what might happen and we need to depend on the other drivers. It can be easy to get lost or distracted. There will probably be times when we need to slow down. We may run into unexpected construction.
People tend to drive the way we live our lives. Some of us just want to go fast, unaware of risks to other drivers or to ourselves. There are people who do not really know the right exit. When they finally recognize it they try to cut across several lanes of traffic to get there.
We can become better drivers by reducing our distractions and practicing awareness. It helps when we recognize when to slow down and know which exit we want.
For most of us it is not a matter of studying how to be a good driver, but experience. We practice and become the driver we know we want to be.
Spiritual life on the freeway is part of the rest of our lives. We practice spiritual disciplines on the freeway and off, and we grow deeper.
Questions
Where are you going on the spiritual freeway?
What does the way you drive tell you about how you experience spiritual life?
[Image by biofriendly]
Greg Richardson is a spiritual life mentor and leadership coach in Southern California. He is a recovering attorney and university professor, and a lay Oblate with New Camaldoli Hermitage near Big Sur, California. Greg’s website is StrategicMonk.com, and his email address is StrategicMonk@gmail.com.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In