God is on the Road

Tyres

Contact patch (Present moment)

The contact patch is the tyre area in contact with the road at any one time; it is only a few inches. Without it, a car cannot go, stop or turn. The contact patch sets limits and creates possibilities. It also provides feedback for the driver.

On the highway of life, our contact patch is the present moment. The more we bring our true selves to this, the more contact we have with reality, with God. The contact patch also symbolises prayer. Prayer ought to empower our many starts, stops, and turns on the highway of life, the possibilities we explore, and the limitations we accept. Prayer gives us vital feedback too. Find God where the rubber meets the road.

Tracking (Spiritual guidance)

Tracking refers to a wheel’s angle and direction, as set by the manufacturer. Uneven tyre wear can indicate the tracking is out; if so, you might feel the car pulling left or right. We can often sense when our spiritual tracking is out too.

When hitting a kerb or driving over potholes, wheel alignment can get out of line. Similarly, bumps, knocks, and careless ‘driving’ can affect our spiritual alignment on the highway of life. Is your spiritual tracking out? Are you in agreement with God’s angle and direction for your life?

Punctures (Spiritual guidance)

Has your car had a puncture? If not, you’ll get one eventually. Tyres inflate and deflate. We do too. The evil spirit deflates, and the good spirit inflates. God permits our spiritual deflation to bring forth good, such as building up the virtues of faith, hope and love. Due to the self-sealing nature of tyres, it is possible to drive many miles without noticing a puncture, though the leakage eventually becomes apparent. In life, too, we might not know we are leaking graces. We'll deflate if we don’t pay attention and deal with our spiritual puncture(s). Are you aware of holes in your spiritual life?

Advanced tyre technology has relevance to the spiritual life. A Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) has low tyre pressure sensors. Self-inflating tyres (SIT) both sense low tyre pressure and re-inflate via components built into the wheel. In addition, run-flat tyres resist the effect of deflation via their reinforced tyre walls. Similarly, the more ‘advanced’ one is in the spiritual life—this supernatural gift from God—the greater one’s sensitivity to spiritual leakage. We are also more resilient in times of desolation. We have a greater ability to re-inflate by drawing upon God’s grace within our inner core. One doesn’t stay flat for long. How is your spiritual technology?

Perishable (Death)

Tyres and humans are perishable. Could tyres be made longer-lasting? Humanity (body and soul) was initially made eternal, but it now has a perishable body since ‘The Fall’. ‘For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality.’ (1 Cor 15:53) Which might perish first, you or your tyres? Know the shortness of your earthly life.

Wheel

Spare (Prayer)

What does prayer mean to you? There is a saying: Prayer is not a spare wheel, only used when there is a problem; instead, it is a steering wheel directing one’s path through life. Use prayer when facing difficulties and when life is going well. Pray at all times.

Spokes (Life)

Liken your entire existence to one rotation of a twelve-spoked car wheel—each of the twelve spokes marks about seven or more years of your life (if lucky). Tyre and tarmac meet—the present. Moving away—the past; towards contact—the future. Now is life. The ever-changing present is your time to make contact with the eternally unchanging God.

Revolving (Life)

Are you an air cap on a revolving car wheel? Life turns: there are ups, and there are downs. The medieval ‘Wheel of Fortune’ (Latin: Rota Fortunae) symbolises life's changing fortunes. At the top—a king (I reign); at the bottom—a pauper (no reign); to one side—a person climbing (will reign); at the other side—a person falling (have reigned). Life goes well; at other times, it does not. Things get better, at other times, worse. Christianity places Jesus Christ at the centre of the wheel of life. By living at the centre, we gain the peace of Christ; we are detached (indifferent) to changing circumstances. Don’t be an air cap on the rim; live humbly on the hub.

Transmission

(Spiritual guidance)

A car’s transmission transmits engine power to the road wheels. A young driver having mechanical problems asked me what I knew about cars. “Not a lot,” I said, but after telling him I knew the engine was usually at the front, he said his car goes forward when he selects reverse. He was baffled as to what might be going on. “Try it again,” I suggested, and so he did. “Sounds like reverse,” and sure enough, back the car went! Reverse and first were side by side on his gear change—he had been selecting the wrong gear. So near, yet so far. God is the power for our spiritual wheels. When encountering spiritual problems, what on the surface might seem confusing may be an easy fix. If you become spiritually baffled, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Make sure that whoever you ask at least knows where the engine is.