The Benefits of the Passenger Seat

Have you ever wondered who paved the road you are driving on? Or who ran the plumbing that your water comes from when you turn on the shower? I will admit that I seldom consider who put in the effort so long ago so that I could benefit today. Maybe I have had too much time to think over the past few weeks, sitting in the passenger seat of my husband’s F-250. I have seen the sun set and the moon rise several times from this seat. I have seen the landscape change, the roads change – for better and for worse, and the culture change. Starting in California, I saw tall, fragrant pine trees. Through the deserts of Nevada I saw thirsty trees, half alive. In Utah and Kansas there were great big shade trees (and corn – a lot of corn in Kansas). Through the plains and mountains, valleys, and even in the middle of a river in Missouri, I have seen thousands of trees. And the thought occurred to me “Who planted all of those trees, and why did they plant them?” Around homes, I understood that people probably planted for shade. And in orchards, it was clear that trees were planted for their fruit. But staring out the window in the middle of nowhere at hundreds of trees, I wonder who planted them all, and why.

We don’t actually plant trees, do we? We plant seeds, and seeds become trees, and trees provide fruit, or protection from the elements, or often times both. Last year I went to the apple farm with my kids on a field trip, and if I remember correctly the tour guide said that you won’t get an edible apple from an apple tree for over six years after you plant it. Six years! If you have been with me long, you will remember that I not only have a brown thumb, I lost interest in my plants after they moved outside into the garden. To plant a seed, water and nurture it, and watch it grow and not expect any fruit (and little shade) for six years – that takes patience I am not sure I possess…yet. It is much easier to go to the grocery store and buy a bag of apples today than to plant a seed and have an apple in six or so years. It is much wiser and the rewards are much greater, however, if I plant a seed.

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

1 Corinthians 3:6

I spent many years of my life buying apples. I have also often tried to plant trees – like plant today and expect fruit tomorrow – rather than seeds. God has called me (us) to sow seed. At times he may require me to water, or nurture what someone else has planted. And there will be times that I will reap where I didn’t sow. Just as I have benefited so greatly from trees I didn’t plant and roads I didn’t pave, I hope to be able to be a planter and a paver for those who come behind me – my children for starters.

As a natural driver it has been a wonderful couple of weeks in the passenger seat. Being an observer, a follower, and going with the flow are all things I am not great at (as well as helping my husband get the cabover back on the truck – I recently discovered I was not built for that either) but I can say with absolute honesty that this has been one of the best trips of my life. I think I will stay in the passenger seat awhile longer. There is freedom in surrender.