My oldest daughter was learning to drive several years ago so when we drove from Texas to Colorado, I thought it would be good experience for her to drive when we went through the Texas Panhandle. In that region of Texas, the roads are straight, wide and seem to go on forever. Her driving permit was fairly new and West Texas seemed like a pretty safe place to practice highway driving.
The first hour passed without much conflict. (For those of you who have driven with a strong-willed teen and tried to give any sort of instruction, you will understand why I would use the word “conflict.” For those of you who have not experienced that joy yet – just wait.)
The plains around us were brown and dotted with cactus and cows. Driving through North Texas can become very monotonous so I was not surprised when my daughter began to drift to the right. I gave her instruction to move a bit to the left. She sighed and corrected her lane placement. I took that moment to teach her the proper car alignment in a lane. From where I was sitting in the passenger seat (and often over the white line) I thought she had a tendency to hug the right edge of the lane.
She continued to drive a little bit too close to the far right line and I continued to correct her. After a while, every time I would mention her need for a lane adjustment, she would make a comment or sigh. Each time she tried to tell me that she was driving in the right spot.
“No, you aren’t,” I countered.
I pointed out to her there were “ruts” smack dab in the middle of the lane. I reasoned that if my daughter could see many others had driven right where I was instructing her to drive, maybe this history of unknown drivers would speak to her. If she would not believe me, maybe she would believe them by seeing the proof they left behind.
“Well, they are wrong.”
“Honey, the whole world can’t be wrong. Now move over,” I wearily replied.
In regards to driving in a car lane, I think the whole world is right and we should stay between the lines evenly. But in regards to moral issues today, I’m beginning to wonder if the whole world can be wrong.
Every time I watch the news or catch a glimpse of the latest, greatest sitcom, I see values and morals expressed reflecting “the world.” If the shows on TV are representative of our culture – then the whole world can be wrong. The shows are often violent and/or filled with casual sex – or allude to it. The kids are dishonoring to their parents and are mean to each other. We are more concerned about Kim’s baby than about those around us that we actually know. And that just all seems very wrong.
Our kids are being taught that morals are relative. They see the world as very grey.
No absolutes. No Truth.
But there are Truths.
God is good and faithful – even in the tough time. God’s peace passes all understanding.
He will never leave us or forsake us.
His love endures.
He cares about us.
And the list goes on…
You know, more and more, as I watch shows or read about shows or watch the shows about the shows or watch the awards given to the shows, I can’t help but think, “the whole world can be wrong.”
Excuse me a minute – I need to go apologize to my daughter.