· By Mr. Sim · ~2 min read
Learning to Drive at Thirty-Eight: A Christian's Honest Reflection on the License That Took Too Long
Learning to Drive at Thirty-Eight: A Christian's Honest Reflection on the License That Took Too Long
The Scene
The learner driver in Randburg is forty-one years old. The instructor is twenty-three. The Christian sits in the driver's seat and thinks: 'I should have done this twenty years ago.'
Galatians 5:22-23 — *"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."*
The South African Christian in the situations described above is not alone. The Bible has been speaking to these situations for two thousand years. The Wednesday Bible study in Parkmore has been hearing these passages read, discussed, and applied for ten years. What follows is a distillation of what the Bible says and what we have learned from the journey.
The Bible and New Beginnings
The Bible is full of people who began things late. Abraham was seventy-five. Moses was eighty. The story of the faith is not the story of the early starter. It is the story of the person who begins when the circumstances finally make it possible.
The Shame of the Late Learner
The adult learner in South Africa carries a particular shame. The shame is real. The Bible invites the adult learner to bring the shame to God and receive dignity instead.
What the Bible Says About Patience in Learning
Galatians 5:22 lists the fruit of the Spirit. The adult learner needs all of these. The Bible is addressed to the struggling learner.
Practical Steps for the Adult Learner
Get a patient instructor. Practice in a quiet area first. Celebrate small milestones. Do not compare yourself to the eighteen-year-old. Use the commute time — listen to the audio Bible.
A Prayer for the Adult Learner
Father, we bring the shame of the late start. Give us patience with ourselves. Give us the courage to keep trying. Give us the license — eventually. Amen.
A Closing Prayer
Father, we bring this struggle to you. We ask for your wisdom, your strength, and your presence. We ask for the community to hold us. We ask for the hope that does not disappoint. Amen.
*Johannesburg Bible Study Church meets online every Wednesday at 7:30pm for a Bible study that is intentionally local and biblically grounded. The Bible study is free, open to anyone, and free to join or to leave. Call Mr. Sim on +27 77 487 1295 or Ms. Dora on +27 67 442 4461.*
Community notes
From people who have shown up.
Honest, lightly edited, with permission. To leave a comment, use the form below — your note goes straight to our team email and we will post it here once we have confirmed with you.
Naledi P.
Parkmore
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I attended my first Sunday picnic with my family. The vibe was warm without being overwhelming. The kids ran around Mushroom Farm Park, the adults talked, and someone brought extra blankets for the cool afternoon.
Johan v.d.M.
Sandton
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The Korean class has become our family Sunday ritual. My wife and I take the class, the kids play. It is the only Sunday we look forward to in the month.