Today, I learned how to load, secure, and drive with a tractor on a trailer. I use a trailer all the time doing landscaping projects at my job but most of the time I am pulling it around with our tractor. My trailer adventure today involved me pulling more weight than I ever had before and came with new challenges and lessons.
I had to rent a larger trailer for our tractor because the trailer we have at work is to small. When I brought the trailer back to my job, I set it up so I could drive the tractor on it. I decided to put my seatbelt on in this instance because I did not want to take any chance that the tractor would flip or fall off. Driving the tractor up was simple enough but I was not sure how far forward to drive the tractor to create the proper balance for driving. I drove the tractor forward until I saw the back of our vehicle even out and load a little and then stopped.
After chaining the tractor up, I got in the vehicle and began my trip to the mechanic. It did not take me very long to realize that I had not balanced the tractor properly. As I drove down the road, every little bump made the vehicle sway back and forth and and bounce up and down. I had only made it a couple miles down the road when I was feeling a slight bit of motion sickness from the swaying and had to pull over to try and remedy the situation.
Luckily, when I pulled into the gas station, I saw a truck that looked like it had pulled quite a bit of heavy equipment. I quickly parked, got out of the vehicle, and walked over to the truck to ask for help. I asked the stranger if he had towed a tractor before and he answered that he had. I asked him if he could help me and show me what I had done wrong in loading our tractor. I explained to him how the vehicle was bouncing and swaying and he told me that I had not pulled the tractor far enough up on the trailer.
He helped me get the tractor position correctly and I have to say that the rest of my hour long trip was smooth and without motion sickness ;) . It was still interesting dealing with the added weight, both in acceleration and braking. I also had to be very careful to keep the trailer wheels in the lines and make sure that I made my turns wide to accommodate the large trailer behind me. All in all, I am so grateful for the help of a stranger and that I made the trip to the mechanic and back safely.
God spoke to me in a few ways through this trip. First, He showed me the value of asking for help. There are many times in life when I have tried to do things on my own without seeking God's help and failed. Through humbling myself and admitting that I can't do it on my own, I allow myself to be molded and taught by Jesus. Second, If I had not paid attention to the trailer while I was driving, I would've surely hurt the tractor, myself, and/or others. Through this, I learned how important it is to pay attention in life. You never know when the Holy Spirit may be leading you to reach out, talk to someone, or teaching you a biblical truth through the situation you are in. Lastly, I was acutely aware of how often my life is in God's hands. Any number of things could've happened on my trip today. I believe God was at work by steading my hands on the steering wheel, protecting my tires from blowing as I drove, directing the many semis in their lanes, providing a stranger to instruct me on proper trailering, and helping me to find the mechanic and navigate home without issue.
God is constantly moving and working in our lives. Each day is an opportunity to see Him work in your life. I leave you tonight with some verses that I hope will give you peace in knowing that God is in control of your life daily. Ephesians 3:20, "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us." Matthew 10:29, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father." Proverbs 16:9, "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."
Blessings,
Greg
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