Lessons of Driving

Traffic on a school morning can be precarious, at best. Last week, just a few blocks from the school after dropping Mario off, was no exception. As I began to accelerate after waiting at a stop sign I noticed another car starting to accelerate as well. Talking out loud to other drivers as if they can hear me makes no sense whatsoever, but I tend to do it, more often than not. In this particular case, what escaped from my mouth towards the other driver was, "oh reaaally???" as I continued to accelerate and they stopped.

However, just as that comment flowed from my mouth I realized that I knew the person driving the other car. My feelings and attitude immediately changed from being completely irritated to nothing but love as I again spoke out loud saying, "oh hey! It's "so-and-so"! (name concealed for obvious reasons!) Hi, so-and-so!" while waving frantically and smiling really big out my window towards her. It just so happened that the other driver was a personal friend of mine that I really respect and love. In fact, we even go to church together. I always enjoy seeing her as she is always, without fail, bubbly and full of joy. As I finished driving through the intersection and the rest of the way to work, I thought nothing more of the negative part of that interaction, but only felt the love that I have for so-and-so and was glad to have seen her.

Yesterday at church we laughed as we talked about what was going on in our minds that morning at that intersection. Both of us busy, trying to get from point A to point B, going through the motions of every day life and just trying to check that one more thing off the long list of things on our "to-do" list for the day. But throughout the evening yesterday I began to think about this situation more...and then suddenly awake at 4 a.m. this morning, I am also thinking about it. There is a lesson in this encounter.

I have been wondering how many people I have "talked to" while driving, and how many people I felt that negative feeling towards when they committed what I perceived as some minor transgression against me. Why do I take those things so personal? My actions and behavior is as if they have gone out of their way to personally offend me. But in the overwhelming majority of the cases that transpire, in all likelihood, they don't even know me so how could it ever be personal? How many times are we just two busy drivers, trying to get from point A to point B, going through the motions of every day life and just trying to check that one more thing off the long list of things on our "to-do" list?

As I think about the extreme change in my feelings just by realizing that the other driver was a friend, I question why the perceived transgression became non-existent at the instant she was recognized. It was literally like night and day; all negative feelings taken over by the feelings of love that I have for her. All was forgiven and forgotten that quickly. So how many other drivers should I have felt this way towards? I am compelled to answer honestly with, "way more than I have."

Even as maddening as driving can be at times, we never really know what others are going through...what they have on their minds...what is heavy on their hearts...what is serving as a distraction to them. We have no way of knowing when a person just finished getting into an argument with their spouse, just found out that a loved one is terminally ill, was just let go from their job, etc. We just don't know. What would happen if instead of getting upset, getting an attitude and talking in a negative tone to other drivers, I actually felt the love and forgiveness that I felt at the moment I saw my friend? What if I showed that grace by smiling and waving to the other driver like I did my friend? (Perhaps not quite as cheesy of a grin, lest they think I'm a loony.) :-) Perhaps, just maybe, that would make their day a little better.

What if, in my every day life even outside of the car, I treated each person I came in contact with with the same level of love and respect? The people I pass in the halls at the hospital, the other shoppers at the grocery store, the other people in a restaurant, the people I walk past each day? In reality, we don't really know what those people are going through either. Maybe they could use a smile, a "hello", to be complimented on something simple or a small conversation...that might be the only compliment or conversation they get all day...or week...or month...

Just as I felt a surge of love for so-and-so, I want to also feel a surge of love for others around me. I want to show compassion towards others even in the mundane routines of life. And as I think about choosing that word mundane, I am immediately bombarded with the question, "what part of life in Christ is supposed to be mundane?!?" None of it! Living a life for Christ is an adventure...a crazy adventure that has so many unexpected twists and turns you couldn't write a book to capture all of the details. That is the life of a person that is "sold out" to living a life for Christ; You never know what God will send your way next.

Lord, thank You for the life lessons that You teach me each day, in so many different ways. Thank You that when I do something offensive You still smile and love me all the same. Thank You for loving me despite the silly or offensive things that I do. Thank You for Your forgiveness and for not just "driving off" out of my life with harsh words for me. Thank You for giving me a heart of compassion and love for others. Thank You for allowing me to live my life for You. Thank You for all of the past adventures You have taken me on, as well as the adventures You have planned for the future. And thank You in advance for providing divine opportunities to share Your love with others in even the most simple and practical ways.