The Daily Grind with Matt Clarke

Wedged Between a Tire and the Wall

Written by Matt Clarke | April 6, 2026

We had just finished our scheduled morning meeting out by the bushes next to our home. Our elderly golden, Louie, and I were walking back to the garage for breakfast, and he just stopped. He sniffed around the air, looking confused for a bit, and I gave him some time to get his bearings straight. I stopped using a leash with him a while ago because, at our advanced ages, neither of us was going anywhere fast, but I still had a step on him.  

When he got going again, he seemed a little out of sorts, and instead of walking between the cars, he went to the side of one. I tried calling to him to stop, turn around, and come back, but I had no leash, and he was going to do it how he wanted to do it. So, I let him.

I knew he couldn't get past the front of the car. If you ever see the white paint streaks on the front bumper of my car, you'll know why. I always park really close to the wall that juts out in that part of the garage, and sometimes...let's just say there's not a lot of room. Well, determined to do it his way, he tried to squeeze through. Realizing he couldn't make it, he backed up a little and tried again, this time a bit more aggressively, and ultimately got stuck between the tire and the wall. I thought it was hilarious until I realized just how often I do the exact same thing.

"I withdrew from them, but they kept going on their own stubborn way." (Isaiah 57:17)

 

When I get my mind set on something, I tend to just stubbornly push forward, committed to my direction. Sometimes that is a really good thing, as I have done the research, got input from others, prayed about it, and feel confident to the point where ignoring the distractions gets me to the desired finish line. Other times, however, I am unsure. I want to believe I know what to do, but I am more impatiently guessing than diligently planning. I don't listen to the people around me, I don't hear the whispers of God encouraging me to slow down, and I just put my head down and stubbornly go until I wind up stuck between a tire and the wall.

Just like I had to do with Louie when I walked over, pulled him from his mess, picked him up, carried him to the right path, and walked with him to the door, God does that for me when I let Him. So does my team, friends, and family.

 It's frustratingly awesome the way God allows us to go our own way and then stands at the ready with grace and correction to put us back on track. 

It is important to pay attention to the warning signs when we find ourselves going our own stubborn way. Listen to the trusted people around you waving their arms and saying stop, it isn't going to end well. Otherwise, you may just find yourself wedged between a tire and the wall in need of a little course correction.
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