MY OWNER'S MANUAL

I recently purchased a new car. As the sales person reviewed the essential information I nodded to indicate I understood all the industry jargon.  Just to be clear,the car is a Ford Edge, but to me it was something out of a James Bond movie.  My phone was synced and my vehicle could call anyone in my contacts.  No keys had to be used to start the engine.  Seats could be folded, the trunk opened, and endless XM radio stations experienced all with little effort.  This girl was on fire!!! 

The first morning as I headed to work, I pushed a button to turn the radio on.  I heard the voice of my sleeping sister Nicole croak "Good Morning."  "Why are you calling me at 7 in the morning?" I questioned.  "You called me," she replied. "I was just trying to turn on the radio...I don't know how the heck the car called you!"  All I heard was a groan and a loud click.  I rode the rest of the way to work in silence afraid to touch anything. 

After a month or so of traveling happily in my new wheels, I encountered another odd occurrence.  Whenever I would come out after work, I would touch the door and the car would automatically unlock.  I was certain I locked the doors and so I discussed this issue with several of my coworkers.  Each afternoon as I approached my car, the mere presence of my hand (no keys involved) and the doors would unlock.  I could not have people breaking into my Ford Edge and stealing my top secret lesson plans, so I conducted several experiments.  Bryan tried to open the door and it remained locked.  Sara met me one morning and witnessed me locking the car and then she tried to open the door and... it unlocked.  I was near her when this happened so I became convinced my car knew me.  I had not been with Bryan during that test, and therefore, the car had not allowed him entrance.  Damn this car was awesome!!!    That weekend, as I cleaned out my lunchbox, I noticed a futuristic button device (I don't know what it is called) that had been given to me by the dealership.  I consulted the manual and discovered that there is something that is in the door handle that allows anyone that is in possession of the strange button device to walk up to the car, put their hand on the door handle, and wham the door unlocks.  Ashamed and a little embarrassed, I had to return to school and explain to many of my coworkers that my Ford had no intuitive powers allowing it to recognize its' owner. Bummer.

There are so many people (me included) walking around dazed and confused by this complicated world.  We create plausible  scenarios and excuses to explain why our lives are just not working.  Sometimes we even invite other people into our mess hoping that they will bring us clarity.  Each of us will live a life that is filled with limitless magic and blessings, and yet much like me and my car, we refuse to consult the Creator when we are in need.  Read your owner's manual- THE BIBLE.  God knows every answer before you ask the question.  You will never get lost.  You will never be locked out of His kingdom.  His doors are open and He is simply waiting for you to take a ride.