I confess, when I hear the words “drive by”, I immediately think of a shooting. That’s what “drive by” means in urban areas, gun fire from a car that is driving by.  But the words “drive by” have received an upgrade of late, thanks to COVID-19. These two words have received an image makeover in the last few months.  Now “drive by” means something entirely new.  We have “drive by” birthday parties, funerals, graduations, shows of support for various people and causes, the possibilities are endless.

From “drive thru” to “drive by” was a small, simple step for mankind.  And we have made the move.  In the absence of assembling together to celebrate something or someone we can “drive by” in order to participate in whatever the event might be. I am wondering if “drive by” events and celebrations are by invitation only?  Being a party crasher at these parties wouldn’t be that difficult to do.

Recently, I discovered the power of another kind of “drive” – the driveway.  It is similar to the power of the front porch but for those that don’t have proper sized front porches, the driveway is the way to go.  The driveway may turn out to be the new front porch.  Neighbors can pull up a lawn chair and sit awhile.  (properly socially distanced of course) The open air forum of the driveway allows for face to face conversation while still observing all the rules, regulations and restrictions of current public health policies.

In other words, you can sit in your driveway in the company of others without fear of being fined, cited or arrested for violating current guidelines of whichever phase of reopening your particular state might be in at the moment.  The important thing is to know which phase you are in because the numbers change with each phase and you don’t want to exceed your driveway’s capacity.  (for people not vehicles)

But the power of the driveway is packed with possibilities.  It can provide a face to face forum for friends and neighbors to actually spend time together and enjoy each other’s company.  I think pre COVID-19 this was called socializing or having a party, among other things.

The advantage of the “driveway” over the “drive by” is many faceted.  Time is one. The driveway allows for some actual time to be spent with others rather than just a wave and a sign as they pass by.  People can get out of their cars, so less gas is used as they don’t have to keep them running.  So driveways are better for the environment than drive bys.  For driveway gatherings no vehicle is needed, just pull up a lawn chair.  Easy and inexpensive.

But the true power of the driveway is in the people, the people that it brings together – together to share a smile, a laugh, a story, a worry, a current problem, whatever it might be.  The driveway offers something cyberspace can’t copy or counterfeit – a measure of personal closeness that zoom can’t replicate, even with our chairs being spaced for purposes of compliance.

It is inexplicable but it is true nonetheless.  I felt calmed, comforted and filled with hope after just one such driveway episode.  I think driveways may be the wave and the way of the future.  Exodus 33:11 says,

“The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.”

Now that meeting place, of Moses with God, was a tent Moses pitched outside of the Israelite camp, calling it the “tent of meeting.”  Then “As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses.”  (Exodus 33:9) Nothing like being with someone in person. Whether the meeting place is a tent or a driveway, the power of the personal, face to face encounter cannot be overstated.

Right now there are many people precious to me that I would love to see sitting in my driveway.  Jesus understood the power of the personal, the power of proximity. Jesus is the most personal of people and the most personal God and Savior.  Besides knowing every hair on my head, every word I speak before it is on my tongue, every thought and attitude of my heart which are uncovered and laid bare before His eyes, He also knows the way that I take and He wants me to be with Him!  (the power of proximity)

“In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.”  (John 14:2-3)

That’s the power of proximity.  The desire to be with those we love cannot be fully satisfied by the substitution of cyberspace for actually occupying the same space. Jesus understood that.  I won’t spend eternity out there somewhere – I will spend it with Him in His house!  Jesus said He is preparing me a place even now.

No zoom meetings in heaven!  Just plenty of personal proximity to those we love.

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; (or a computer screen) then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”   (1 Corinthians 13:12)

sincerely,     Grace Day