Here's to the Lost Cab Driver

So I went to Vegas last weekend and I'm planning on posting the pics shortly. Suprisingly, I actually came away with something from the trip --- a potential life lesson that came from a 43 year old cabbie.

On Sunday morning, I left my room, said bye to my half asleep buddies, and went down to the lobby to try to catch a cab for my 8:45 am flight to the DC-Dulles Airport. A cab driver pulls up to the front of the hotel around 7:15 am. A short guy with a buzz cut and go-T (sp?) gets out of the cab. In a raspy, but upbeat voice, he says, "what's up man; where you headed?". Continueing in his wraspy voice, he asks me what I do for a living, which I tell him I'm a researcher for an economics non-profit center in DC (usually I make something up since the line, "I work for a think-tank" usually requires a 5 to 10 minute explanation). He then accuses the U.S. government of not having enough gold to back it's currency to which I reply thatk the U.S. currency is no longer backed by gold. "I didn't know that", he says. He then starts a pyschotherapy session with me (I was on two hours of sleep, hung over, and not particularly in the mood to play the role of a shrink but he gave me no choice)

Cab Driver: You know man, I've been a cabbie out here for 20 years.

Me: You must like it out here then, huh?

Cab Driver: No man, I really hate it here man. But, you know , I just don't know what else to do, or where else to go. I just bought this cab so I need to pay it off; I can't leave now.

...

(After realizing he was looking for a response/answer to his dilemma, I decide to say something unhelpful)

Me: Well, you should start planning for what you can do when you get the cab paid off...

Cab Driver: Ya man, I've starting thinking about it. You know those monster trucks used for mining?

(I had no idea what he was talking about at the time, but apparently monster trucks are now being used in mines, here's a link)

Me: Ya...not really

Cab Driver: Well, monster trucks are now being used in mines. I'd need a license to operate one. But it looks like it could be pretty cool. So, I donno man. Maybe I'll look into that, you know?

Me:...

Cab Driver: You know, I just need some direction. I've never had a sense of direction. Of what where to go next, you know man. Some people grow up and be something, like a doctor, or a teacher. I've never known.

(This is when the life lesson punched me in the face.)

Me: Well you control what you do. Don't look for someone to tell you where to go. Just decide on it and do it. (I was giving him the Nike anthem -- further proof that I was right not to be a shrink)

Cab Driver: See, I don't believe that I am in control man. God controls everything. Everyday, God controls the assholes that cut me off. God is screwing us man. He puts us down here down here and fucks with us.

(No, he did say that...And he said it in the most helpless voice that I've heard from a grown man. Like a person who really has completely given up. It was sad to hear this from a middle aged guy who really did seem to be a good hearted person just looking for his way)

Me: Don't fall into that trap of believing that you're helpless. Some people use the God controls everything belief to render themselves helpless; to justify there inability to make a decision. God won't prevent you from doing something else.

Cab Driver: I hear you man. But everyday I see shit. You would understand if you were in my position man. I just don't know man.

This is roughly how the conversation went. When we pulled up to the airport, I told him that I hope he finds his way out of his rutt. I haven't prayed for a stranger like that in a long time. But I'm praying for this guy.

The lesson I'm taking away from this is that it's better to make a decision than to spend life thinking about what we're going to do next. Second, it's better (in my opinion) to believe in the spirit of God as a guiding force, an entity that resides within all of us rather than to believe in God as a external entity that controls/manipulates our actions like a puppet master). This guy felt like a puppet, and he was pissed and he was sad.