Saturday, November 11, 2006

The Passenger

(A Special Post for Sunday Scribblings)

"I Don't Want To Be a Passenger in My Own Life"


-Diane Ackerman


OK...so those of you who have been reading along for awhile - know that I am a "quotes guy." I can spend a long time mulling over some well chosen words.

As I was handed the assignment to write on the above - my initial feelings towards this quote was, "why would someone say this?" and "out of all of the great quotes in the world, why would someone assign this one?"

I will do a little thinking on paper - as I type this out but I don't see my attitude changing around these 11 words.

First stumbling block - "a passenger IN my own life." It is hard for me to wrap my mind around "my life" as a container so to speak. Perhaps I am of too feable/literal a mind to do so. A life is not something you are in...it is something that you do.

Second stumbling block - Ackerman is a scientist and the quote above seems to want to steer herself and her reader toward being in control. There is only one thing that we control and it is how we think. There is great value is letting things to just be, much like in nature. This is why this is a surprising quote from Ackerman because she is a naturalist.

Third stumbling block - and this is personal. I don't want to be the driver in my own life. In the above, Ackerman makes it sound like she doesn't want to "go along for the ride." I have been at the wheel for most of my life. For the most part, everything has worked out fine......but what would happen if I honestly gave the wheel over to Him?

There was an old slogan - "Go Greyhound...and leave the driving to us." While I don't see myself heading down to the bus station anytime soon, there is another driver whose name begins with a G that I would gladly be a passenger of.

......but, let's be serious. Will I ever let loose of the reigns? No, probably not....because I don't really want to be a passenger in my own life.

6 comments:

paris parfait said...

I remember that Greyhound slogan. And yes, it's hard to let go of the reins, no matter what. It seems we need to feel we exercise some sort of control, no matter how illusory that perception might be.

Amber said...

This is great. Made me smile. Because, boy, do I try to give it all over to God...But just hold on a little, you know, in case He is busy or something? LOL When the going really gets tough, I find it easier to be a passenger. It is the little things of day to day life I asume I need to control.

:)

Kerstin said...

Interesting analysis. As for stumbling block one, isn't this what a lot of quotes that use analogies do? Using "things" to help describe a feeling or attitude? Those are my favorite kind of quotes. I took the Ackerman quote to be about taking responsibility for one's own life because no one else can do it for you.

Brad said...

Finding the "self at the wheel" is dangerous and often lonely.

Handing the keys over...
Moving over to the back seat...
Jesus, take the wheel...

These are all very tough risks to take. I know that we have One that is trust worthy and knows the path (even the road less taken).

b

TMTW said...

I agree. Why not enjoy the ride?

Anonymous said...

Nice take on this post. Whether we want to be the driver or the passenger, we still need to follow His lead.