Heading down the highway, I had to smile when I saw a seasonal phenomenon that some drivers embrace and other drivers despise. The tractor “parade”.
Now for those who do not live or travel through rural areas with an abundance of farm fields and motorized equipment – let me enlighten you. At times, a large piece of equipment must travel down paved roadway and highways to get from one place to the next. Yes, the same roadways where folks are trying to get to work, tourists are trying to get to the beach for vacation, and other people are just in a hurry to go somewhere. The tractor parade often occurs when the tractor, going at a top speed of 25mph, is traveling on a 50-mph roadway with drivers going 50+ mph who can not get past the tractor’s slow pace. Maybe there is too much oncoming traffic to pass safely. Maybe there is a double solid line which warns against passing this tractor which is often filling up the lane and probably the shoulder of the road as well. Needless to say, those who form an impromptu line behind the slow-moving vehicle often get annoyed, frustrated, and inconvenienced. Meanwhile the tractor’s driver is doing all he can to get from point A to point B to continue with the growing process.
The vehicles in the tractor “parade” remind me of my impatience to want to get somewhere now and not to be held back by other factors. When I was in high school, I wanted to hurry up and get done so I could graduate. When I was in college, I wanted to hurry up and get done so I didn’t have to juggle classes, home, and work. Even in the course of an average week, I can find myself in a hurry to complete my to-do list so with each check I feel I have accomplished something. And yet, that’s not what God wants for us. God wants us to embrace the journey as an experience of growth and learning, more than a destination or goal to be reached.
The 23rd Psalm addresses our need to embrace the faith road trip we are on for the experience it offers. Beginning with “the Lord is my shepherd”, we are reminded that our God is one who is close those who live on the land, including sheep that need to be led. Look at verse 2 of the King James version: “he maketh me lie down…” Why would God make us lie down or slow down? The Lord’s purpose is found at the beginning of verse 3; “He restoreth my soul.”
When we are in a hurry to get things done, our physical, emotional, and spiritual health is negatively affected. Maybe God has placed us behind “slow moving tractors” in our lives to get us to slow down to pay attention to what we are missing – people, places, God moments and Spirit whispers. Like Jesus reminded Martha in Luke 10: “ Martha, you are worried and upset about many things but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.“ (Luke 10-41-42)
Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus listening intently to his words. Sitting still and knowing He was God and she was not.
Since I was headed the opposite direction of the tractor, I glanced at the drivers as I passed them. Some were angrily talking to unseen people via Bluetooth. Some were adjusting the radio station. Some were looking at their watch. Others looking to see if they were clear to break free of this inconvenient delay. And a few were contented seated, waiting.
Contemporary Christian music artist Jon Waller went through a difficult time and decided he could be depressed in the season of waiting or could be joyful. His song, “While I’m waiting” includes these lyrics;
I’m waiting on You, Lord; Though it’s not easy,
But faithfully, I will wait
Whether waiting in traffic delays or waiting for direction, Waller’s lyrics remind us we can worship and serve while we are waiting. Waiting isn’t wasted time when we lean into and rely upon our Lord.
When God delays us – whether as individuals or the church – from getting where we want to be, I wonder what kind of drivers we will be on our journey? And what witness to God’s sovereignty will be displayed when we find ourselves in a tractor “delay” kind of situation?