Jesus Take the Wheel??

My family and I just had one of the best Thanksgivings ever in the Wisconsin Dells.  Lots of love and laughter.  We were there from Wednesday – Saturday, and we’ve been doing this for many years. Saturday a major snowstorm blew in, so I left a bit early hoping to be just ahead of it. 

As I traveled down I-39, even though I was only going about 35 mph, my car must have hit a patch of ice under the snow-covered roads, and my car spun out.  Fortunately, there were no cars in front of me.  Only a semi and a car were far, far behind me.  Fortunately, my drivers ed at Cody High School in Detroit, MI, that I took with Martha Metzger during the winter fifty-one years ago, kicked in.  It took longer than I thought it would, or so it seemed, to correct the car taking my foot off the gas and brake, turning into the spin and focusing on where I wanted the car to go.  Soon, but not soon enough for me, the car came to a complete stop, not in a ditch!  I was safe.  The car was safe.

As I immediately began driving again to get to I-74 where there was an exit with a hotel where I could calm my nerves, I thought of the hymn “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less.”  Nothing less than Jesus.  However, I would never say “Jesus Take the Wheel” as that country song goes.  Jesus gives me the ability to get into and get out of situations.  He is with me; but just as I am depending on Jesus, Jesus is depending on me to do the right thing. 

My hope is built on Jesus, and the abilities God gives me.  Thanks be to God I survived and that my memory and abilities aligned with my survival, hopefully for another wonderful thanksgiving with my family in 2026.  Hope abounds this Advent week of hope, and hope abounds always with Jesus!