I have a short commute to my office. That usually doesn’t sit well with those who endure traffic, sometimes for hours, each day. But it’s true – generally, I’m in my car less than an hour a day.
Whether the commute is long or short, we might share a common dilemma: What shall I listen to on my drive to work? How will I listen to it – on radio, by smartphone, or CD?
When it comes to car music, I’m old fashioned. I like radio. My first car was a Ford Mustang (brown, with a hatchback to carry the bass guitar and amplifier) – the buttons were hard to push, and I programmed mostly Southern Rock, 80’s pop music and classic rock on the stations.
Time passes, and cars change. Today, I drive a Subaru Outback (grey, still with hatchback for the boy’s equipment for numerous activities). And the radio in the Subaru has a more technological feel to it:
But I noticed the other day – we still have those buttons, numbered 1-6, to store our favorites, the old standby stations that we can access instantly, depending on our mood or circumstances. Yes, automakers have expanded the number of stations that can be stored, creating FM1, FM2 and even FM3. I’m content with just the AM and FM, though. Too much decision when I am behind the wheel of the car leads to distraction; and distraction leads to veering; and veering leads to – well, you get the picture. That Subaru has a few dings in it.
I was changing the stations the other day, and for some reason, I imagined that each selection was a book of the Bible. I pulled over safely, wrote down my thought, and gently eased back into traffic, knowing that I would one day finish that thought.
The question is: If certain radio stations bring a certain comfort, are there books of the Bible that bring the same feeling? I say yes. So I want to ask you: What’s Your Station? Here are the top six I find myself pulled to at any time (in order of the settings on my car radio).
Christian Radio. Now, I’d like to say that I select this every time I get behind the wheel; alas, I do not. I’d like to say instinct calls me to play this one in every car ride. Again, no. But for those times when I really need to hear the Gospel; whether I am feeling upbeat and thankful, or whether I am anxious and concerned, I choose button #1. Once I do, I almost always feel like I have just left a Sunday morning worship service, and my heart is lifted. Button #1 Bible twin: The Gospel Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and the Acts.
2. 92.5FM: Lone Star Classic Rock.
99.5 The Wolf/Country Radio.
1080 AM – News Radio/Traffic and Weather on the 8’s.
1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; 3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,[a] knowledge and discretion to the young—
Think of this as a “Things my Dad taught me” book. While we traditionally attribute this book to the wisdom of Solomon, it’s likely that his sages, counselors and other persons actually did the writing. Even so, Proverbs gives us wonderful direction and caution signs, much like the News and Weather station. Read a few – you’ll see what I mean! (Don’t take Central Expressway – use an alternate route) Button #4 Bible Twin: Proverbs.
5. 105.3 The Fan/Sports Talk Radio.
6. You may be surprised to learn that Button 6 is not pre-programmed. That’s because sometimes I like to try something new, and I use this button to save a new station I might find with the scan button. You may have one of those buttons – scans through all of the local antennae and pushed the strongest ones out to you. I use it a lot when I am driving long distances, or when I am unsure of radio stations in certain areas of Texas. And, while the ‘scan button’ may not have a Bible Twin, I do hear a comparison with the Holy Spirit. John 3:8 (NIV) reads “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” When we push our own ‘scan button,’ we’re listening for those top five or six places where the Holy Spirit nudges us.
Whether your commute is long or short; whether your car has an old-fashioned radio or the snazzy new technology – choose your stations wisely. I’m sure you’ll hear God in many of them, if you are listening.
[photo and logo credits from Google Images]
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