This line was phrased by my brother, Dr. Anurag, in one of our conversations on surrendering to Thy Will. It’s easier for us to accept someone else being on the driver’s seat when we are in a train or a plane. In a car though, I for sure, am a back-seat driver or I tend to hold the window sill as if that is really going to protect in case of a crash or a bham (as my little one calls it)

Leave the driving to Greyhound implies we surrender and we trust. We accept that He knows what’s best for us and we walk on the path without resisting or doubting. We let our will align to His will.

In Hindu scriptures we talk that God has two kind of children – one that are wise and that can take care of themselves and ones that are child-like and need Him to take care. For the wise children, God pays less attention. For the child-like ones, He is always there protecting and caring. From Pushti-marg Vaishnav mindset of servant or lover mentality we don’t want to be a further botheration to God. However we want and seriously want to feel His presence. Does that mean we should be like His wise children? Or can I be the child-like devotee without being annoying? Whatever type of devotee, I am at a moment, I need to remember to “leave the driving to Greyhound” and accept all that He has designed for me to experience.

You drive

And I’ll ride

Wherever you take me

Whenever you take me

However you take me

You drive

And I’ll ride

I know and

I trust

You know the path

And you know the destination

You drive

I’ll ride

I promise

Not to be a backseat driver

Not to question your judgment

I promise to accept

You drive

I’ll ride

In surrender

And in love

The thought was based upon listening to NPR post winter Olympics. It was an interview with a lady who won a silver in Skeleton. Skeleton is a fast winter sliding sport in which a person rides a small sled down a frozen track while lying face down, during which the rider experiences forces up to 5 g and reaches speeds over 130 km/h (80 mph). The sport was named from the bony appearance of the sled.

She was talking about a personal tragedy where she lost her 3rd child after 18 weeks of pregnancy. She had actually retired from the sport. However as she struggled through this, her husband motivated her to start the sport again. Even more admirable was the fact that he and their other 2 kids took leave of absence from work/ school and supported her in all her competitions. Hence, the antidote to life’s bumps is focusing and doing what you enjoy most.

The story continues further and she said you need to be one with the sled and be calm to win the sport. The second antidote to life’s bumps is to maintain this sense of calm – talking bumps in stride instead of being too rigid and opposing them. It also reminds me to flow with the flow. And it reminds me of being centered. While I have had more success with the first antidote, I continue to focus, learn and remind myself of the 2nd one.

What are you antidotes to life’s bumps?

The antidotes to life’s bumps

Doing what you enjoy

And enjoying the ride

It’s a bumpy ride

It’s steep

It’s fast

It has friction

It’s a bumpy ride

It’s painful

And troublesome

And long

And yet

It’s the bumpy rides I enjoy

With some music

And some love

To be one with the road

It’s fast

It’s steep

It’s fun

It’s the bumpy ride!