Light And Self-Driving Cars

I think a self-driving car would be cool.

In college, I commuted with an electrical engineering student. Jack was convinced that we’d see self-driving cars within a few years. He spent countless hours telling me how they would work.

I don’t recall details, but I remember there were two notions about guidance. The first was that cars would follow some sort of track or wire, essentially being told exactly where to go. The second was that cars would learn what to avoid. Cars would follow the safe, correct path by knowing where to not-go.

Jack was convinced that, because of infrastructure issues, self-driving cars would eventually use the avoidance strategy.

Fast-forward five decades; Jack was right. Self-driving cars are here. When they’re ready for public use, I want one!

I thought about Jack as I rode my bike a few weeks ago, as I stared at the bike trail and wondered about finding the path forward from a personal quagmire. Jack’s options prompted a question.

Will I define my path by what I follow…or by what I avoid?

Placed in those terms, the solution became crystal clear. Regardless of what works for self-driving cars, my path cannot be defined by what I oppose.

Avoiding the bad stuff is the way of the Pharisees. It’s following the rules, staying out of the ditches, weaving from guardrail to guardrail. Those aren’t bad things; they just don’t define the sort of path to which Jesus invited us.

Jesus didn’t say, “Avoid the darkness.” He said, “Follow the light.”

So, what defines our path, the path I believe you and I want to follow?

We want to be known for hope.

We want to be known for generosity, for faith, for obedience, for courage.

We want to be known for kindness and compassion. And empathy.

We want to be known for all these things, and more. Thing is, following the rules and avoiding darkness is often easier.

Who ever said following dreams, or following Jesus, was easy?