Writer's note: The following is a guest blog from Darcy, my lovely passionate wife. Her piece challenged me...I hope it does you as well.
Have you ever been on auto pilot? Auto pilot is a dangerous place to be when you are operating a motor vehicle. I know we all want to pat ourselves on the back and say that we are not guilty of this recklessness, but too many times we have all been there. Lost in thought, talking to or looking at our passenger, exhausted or just driving the route we are too familiar with traveling. I wonder if studied, if this type of driving could possibly be as dangerous as drunk driving?
I found myself in a mindless trek just this past Sunday. I was taking a very familiar trip to my brother’s house. I don’t have any recollection of where my mind was and suddenly a car was coming directly at me that I failed to see. I found myself at fault and in complete and obvious error. Thank heaven for a defensive driver! While my recklessness could have been a devastating situation and have lent itself to a horrific accident, my children and I are safe. I am thankful that the other driver was in control of her thinking and reacted quickly. Her driving skills were self-protective and to me very beneficial.
We have all made a mistake while driving; a mistake that is totally ours, a mistake that bellows I MESSED UP BIG DIDN’T I?! It always makes the situation worse when the driver in the right of way lets you know it.
With my near catastrophe simmering in mind, trying to figure out where my mind a drifted off, a horn is blaring. And not the “toot-toot” you made a mistake horn. The “BLARRING”, you’re an idiot horn….the one where someone lays across the steering column like they’re pounding plastic moles at the local Chuck E Cheese. The horn that says, “in case you don’t already know it you are an idiot”.
In the midst of this, I was thinking…There was a time in my life that I would have blessed this woman out. But I continue driving, uttering the words. “I know; I am sorry, please forgive me.”
Honestly, I made a mistake, I know it…you know it. Can we just stick to I’m sorry and part ways, like we were taught as toddlers? Well…maybe not!
Next thing I know this woman is riding so close to my bumper that I can’t even see headlights, but I can see her and her passenger throwing their hands in the air as to say, “Idiot…what were you thinking.” And as if the tailgating wasn’t getting my attention, back to the blaring of the horn. Seriously, I’m sorry. I really wish you could hear me say it…I’M SORRY!
When the road finally split into two lanes, my bumper rider had the opportunity to pass. And she did. Stopping at the next light, my rival had clearly forgotten her “I’ve lost all control” road rage incident; which made me feel better. Her car, however, was still in sight and lined up on the back were not one, not two, but three stickers, “Jesus Saves”, a silver plated JESUS, and an Ichthus. My jaw dropped to my lap and I almost missed my turn arrow
“Jesus Saves”, really? How come I didn’t just see this proclamation in living color? Jesus, Jesus and Jesus, right there across the back of that little, silver CRV. And all I have experienced the last 12 blocks is her lack of self control, her anger, and a spirit of vengeance.
Wouldn’t she die if I rolled down my window to ask her how Jesus had changed her life?
I have since not been able to get this incident of my mind. I have asked myself one hundred times, what do I do in the car that people could say, “Jesus, really?” Not just in the car. How many times have I failed to show Christ in my actions? How many times have I been the only Bible that someone will read? What does Jesus think when I turn my body when talking to a stranger that looks different or does not smell fresh?
Obviously my CRV friend needed to harness her anger. Would she have acted differently if she remembered those stickers were there?....Would she have acted differently if she remembered Jesus was there?
How many times would we stop our actions in their tracks if we truly believed that Jesus was sitting on the seat next to us?
Would we cut the driver who was an idiot a break?
Would we quit taking part in the conversation when unkind words were being spoken? Would we stop if we could see Jesus listening?
How would we strive to take captive our thoughts to make them obedient to Christ, if we truly thought he heard everyone of them?
St. Francis of Assisi is noted with one of my favorite quotes, “Preach the gospel always and when necessary, use words.” I hope that we don’t forget that the Gospel is not always the easiest, but is the only thing we should be preaching. Bumper sticker or not.
Have you ever been on auto pilot? Auto pilot is a dangerous place to be when you are operating a motor vehicle. I know we all want to pat ourselves on the back and say that we are not guilty of this recklessness, but too many times we have all been there. Lost in thought, talking to or looking at our passenger, exhausted or just driving the route we are too familiar with traveling. I wonder if studied, if this type of driving could possibly be as dangerous as drunk driving?
I found myself in a mindless trek just this past Sunday. I was taking a very familiar trip to my brother’s house. I don’t have any recollection of where my mind was and suddenly a car was coming directly at me that I failed to see. I found myself at fault and in complete and obvious error. Thank heaven for a defensive driver! While my recklessness could have been a devastating situation and have lent itself to a horrific accident, my children and I are safe. I am thankful that the other driver was in control of her thinking and reacted quickly. Her driving skills were self-protective and to me very beneficial.
We have all made a mistake while driving; a mistake that is totally ours, a mistake that bellows I MESSED UP BIG DIDN’T I?! It always makes the situation worse when the driver in the right of way lets you know it.
With my near catastrophe simmering in mind, trying to figure out where my mind a drifted off, a horn is blaring. And not the “toot-toot” you made a mistake horn. The “BLARRING”, you’re an idiot horn….the one where someone lays across the steering column like they’re pounding plastic moles at the local Chuck E Cheese. The horn that says, “in case you don’t already know it you are an idiot”.
In the midst of this, I was thinking…There was a time in my life that I would have blessed this woman out. But I continue driving, uttering the words. “I know; I am sorry, please forgive me.”
Honestly, I made a mistake, I know it…you know it. Can we just stick to I’m sorry and part ways, like we were taught as toddlers? Well…maybe not!
Next thing I know this woman is riding so close to my bumper that I can’t even see headlights, but I can see her and her passenger throwing their hands in the air as to say, “Idiot…what were you thinking.” And as if the tailgating wasn’t getting my attention, back to the blaring of the horn. Seriously, I’m sorry. I really wish you could hear me say it…I’M SORRY!
When the road finally split into two lanes, my bumper rider had the opportunity to pass. And she did. Stopping at the next light, my rival had clearly forgotten her “I’ve lost all control” road rage incident; which made me feel better. Her car, however, was still in sight and lined up on the back were not one, not two, but three stickers, “Jesus Saves”, a silver plated JESUS, and an Ichthus. My jaw dropped to my lap and I almost missed my turn arrow
“Jesus Saves”, really? How come I didn’t just see this proclamation in living color? Jesus, Jesus and Jesus, right there across the back of that little, silver CRV. And all I have experienced the last 12 blocks is her lack of self control, her anger, and a spirit of vengeance.
Wouldn’t she die if I rolled down my window to ask her how Jesus had changed her life?
I have since not been able to get this incident of my mind. I have asked myself one hundred times, what do I do in the car that people could say, “Jesus, really?” Not just in the car. How many times have I failed to show Christ in my actions? How many times have I been the only Bible that someone will read? What does Jesus think when I turn my body when talking to a stranger that looks different or does not smell fresh?
Obviously my CRV friend needed to harness her anger. Would she have acted differently if she remembered those stickers were there?....Would she have acted differently if she remembered Jesus was there?
How many times would we stop our actions in their tracks if we truly believed that Jesus was sitting on the seat next to us?
Would we cut the driver who was an idiot a break?
Would we quit taking part in the conversation when unkind words were being spoken? Would we stop if we could see Jesus listening?
How would we strive to take captive our thoughts to make them obedient to Christ, if we truly thought he heard everyone of them?
St. Francis of Assisi is noted with one of my favorite quotes, “Preach the gospel always and when necessary, use words.” I hope that we don’t forget that the Gospel is not always the easiest, but is the only thing we should be preaching. Bumper sticker or not.
2 comments:
What a great message Darcy!
One night my boyfriend accidentally pulled out in front of someone. She followed us for 2 miles, on our tail, honking her horn, full of anger. Finally he pulled over and it was this 20-something girl alone in the car. She started screaming, "What if I'd had a CHILD in the car?" I said, calmly, "He made a mistake. He said he's sorry. Move on." We had to drive off because she wouldn't stop screaming but I told him that I really hope that girl figures out she shouldn't be chasing down strange cars alone. Of course, I don't think we should have pulled over either. It's just a dangerous world.
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