I was driving across town a couple of weeks ago. It was a bright sunny day. The air was warm (maybe even hot). It was one of those afternoons when there are a ton of people out even though it’s a work day. There were people on the sidewalks, out in their yards, playing at the pools. They were everywhere.
So, I’m driving and suddenly the cars in front of me are slowing down and stopping. It wasn’t a corner and I didn’t see any lights ahead of me. So, I wasn’t sure what was going on until I saw them. There were four of them. They each had on a pair of shorts and a tank top but more to the point they weren’t in any hurry to get where they were going. They also felt a compulsion to stare at the cars that were having to slow and stop. Though I couldn’t hear any words coming out of their mouth (at least initially) their stares said plenty.
A car a couple ahead of me gave a short beep on her horn. I’m sure she wasn’t looking for any trouble. Most Senior ladies seldom are, you know? Anyway, you would have thought she had threatened these guy’s lives. As soon as the horn sounded they started yelling and making gestures and pointing at themselves as if to say, “You don’t want to mess with us!”
My initial response to all of this was, “Are you kidding me? Is that really necessary? Can’t we cooperate with one another without it becoming a test of toughness?” Then I got to thinking about some of my own immaturity. Some of those moments when I make selfish decisions (i.e. walking across the street expecting the world to stop for me) and I think it proves my toughness, or my strength, or my capacity to live of my own accord. I’ll bet that looks just as ridiculous in the eyes of God as those “tough guys” did to me.
Anyone else ever had one of those moments of spiritual recognition? What happened? What did you learn?
July 16, 2008 at 8:39 am
Yes,
I have had those moments as well. I have learned that the things we most complain about are generally the very things we are just as guilty of. I realize this is not the case for everything we complain about, but certainly many I think. And of course I would have to state that this observation must be reserved to just myself. I certainly do not mean to speak for everyone.
In reference to the example you spoke of JP, when I cross a street, I always hurry along so as not to be a nuisance to vehicles. Or road kill for that matter. However, one thing I hate is when another driver speeds up to keep me from passing them, but I find myself doing the very same thing. It sure seems OK to do when I am doing it. I berate myself each time I realize I am complaining about something that I myself am guilty of. I think knowing this, and being more cognizant of my behavior helps me to NOT make these mistakes, but it certainly has not stopped it. I still find myself doing it more often than I care to accept.