High desert is the perfect setting for this Sabbath-afternoon conversation. I usually connect with General on the phone, because he lives in another state. Today he has a 15-hour layover in Los Angeles on his way to New York. We spent 6 of those hours together.
His profound love of cars and things mechanical, leads us on today's adventure in search of the Honda Proving Center in the Mojave desert up highway 14. Excitement beams from his face as he describes the size and purpose of this facility. He's been to Daytona, not yet seen Indy. They are both impressively huge. But the Honda Proving Center---both Daytona and Indy could fit inside the Honda proving center's 7-mile test track---that's how large this track is.
He's dreamed of racing much of his life. A month ago he was in filming as part of a cast of hopefuls on a reality show about race drivers competing for a million-dollar grand prize. Today, we're spending our only face-time in months hunting for a race track in the middle of the desert. Exactly perfect.
Took some searching, but we found it. We could tell we were on to something when we found newly paved, well-maintained asphalt in the middle of the dusty offroads that supplied nearby settlements.
Our exhilaration at the eventual discovery of the site did not wane in the least upon being turned back at the guard gate. We weren't allowed into the facility and didn't get to look around. Didn't get any questions answered.
As we drove away, I asked General if it was worth it. Without a single hesitation, he replied "Absolutely!"
I'm not into racing. In fact, I'd probably never watch it if I didn't have a friend who loves this sport so passionately. As we turned at the guard gate, I thought of Job again, chapter 23, verse 10: "He knows the road I take, when I have been tested, I'll come out golden."
We have to go through a proving process. It's just part of being ready for the road. Ryan says that God would love nothing better than to set us free in the world knowing we'd make responsible choices. In the meantime, we go through a series of carefully designed tests that reveal flaws and uncover weaknesses.
It occurred to me that not everything that happens at a proving center is public access. While the bugs are being worked out and performance being streamlined, it's ok for people to know you're undergoing testing. But they won't be able to go round the track with you and that's fine. They don't understand the obstacles you're having to negotiate, and that's ok. They don't need the details of your test regimen. They have their own tests.
At some point, though, they will benefit from the resulting excellence and superior quality of a well tested mechanism. When the testing of your faith produces endurance (James 1:3), they'll appreciate the tests you endured. Because many times your testing is not for your benefit alone, but for those who will need to rely on a higher level of performance from you.
At one point today, General and I were traveling at 127 miles per hour. At another point today we witnessed a gorgeous desert sunset. At another point today, we made record time on slices of Denny's carrot-cake. Should these be my tests today, prove me, Lord. And feel free to tweak anything else you like. I would like very much to prove reliable on the road.
Goodnight, Beautiful...
Goodnight, Strender
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