Dawn Phelps
Columnist
A story is told of a very rich man who needed to hire a new chauffeur. The rich man lived in a beautiful mansion at the top of a mountain, overlooking a narrow, winding road below.
The man was aware of the dangers lurking on the road between his house and the village, so he wanted to make sure he hired the very best chauffeur for the job. The man scheduled interviews with three applicants, all of which had good driving records.
The rich man decided to ask each of the applicants the same question during their interviews. The rich man said to the first young man, “You just drove the winding road to my house, so you are already aware that the road is winding, narrow, and dangerous.
So, I just have one question for you. “How close can you come to the edge of the pavement while driving up the mountain without losing control of the car?”
The first applicant replied, “I am an experienced driver. I can drive with the right tires within two inches of the edge of the pavement without losing control.” The rich man thanked the man for coming for the interview and escorted him to the door.
When the second applicant sat down in the rich man’s office for an interview, the man asked the second applicant the same question, “How close can you come to the edge of the pavement while driving up the mountain without losing control of the car?”
The second man replied, “Sir, I am such a good driver that I could actually drive with the right tires two inches over the edge of the pavement without losing control of the car.” Again, the rich man dismissed the applicant and thanked him for coming for the interview.
The third applicant entered the room, and again the rich man asked the same question, “How close can you come to the edge of the pavement while driving up the mountain without losing control of the car?”
The third applicant respectfully replied, “Sir, if I were your chauffeur, it would be my job to keep you safe. I would take no chances. I would stay as far away from the edge of the pavement as possible without going over the center line.
The rich man said to the third applicant, “You are hired!”
There is a powerful life lesson in this simple story. At some time or another, some of us have “driven too close to the edge” by driving too fast or tailgating the car ahead. Maybe we have driven too fast on rain-slick roads without realizing how easily a vehicle can hydroplane. Or maybe you have driven too fast on ice or snow.
Perhaps we take health risks by eating too much, exercising too little, and not going for routine checkups. Or maybe we become careless with our spending, running up credit cards, or taking financial risks.
Perhaps we forget to take care of our spiritual wellbeing—we are actually “a soul with a body,” quoting C.S. Lewis, not a body with a soul. Our body will die, but our soul will live forever.
The lesson from the simple story about the rich man and the chauffeur could apply to all of us in many situations. So, remember the question, “How close can you come to the edge without losing control?”
Every day is precious, so “drive” carefully, and stay as far away from the edge as possible.
