On the Road

My old van would not go any faster, as the hill approached the speed fell away. BMW behind, other cars to the left, stuck in the outside lane. I want to move over but no one will let me. A constant stream of cars ignore my indicated appeal. The next lucky driver got more than just my flashing light, my tongue went into gear. You silly ******* can’t you see that I am trying to move over. I wave to him with my fingers, he gets the message and looks astonished. His body language tells me that he is not pleased. He passes and then there is my chance to move over. I do so and then continue to communicate to my neighbour (who is now in front) with my fingers and facial expressions. He of course could not hear how loud I was shouting, but my throat feels sore and his powerful engine takes him away up the hill as I struggle to prevent my van going backwards.
I arrive at my destination, grab my toolbox and slam the van door, then storm off to do battle with the machine I had come to fix.
The day did not go well, but when I eventually calmed down I thought to myself, "well, what was all of that about?". I felt sorry for the other driver as he was just one of many who had not let me change lanes. Then I thought, "well, that wasn't much of an advert for the Christian faith".
So come on, all you Christians who drive. How is your Christian behaviour on the road?
It’s the other driver, not me, they are a woman/man so what do you expect, the wrong colour skin, too old to drive, too young to drive, car's too big, car's too small, who do they think they are? What is that pedestrian doing crossing the road in front of ME?
Just about every prejudice, every form of ism comes out of us when we drive. I can be racist, sexist, ageist and any other ist that you can think of. I cease to be the polite person you may speak to if seen on the street. On the road I am not aware of others as people they just become sources of frustration as I try to get to where I want to go. Let me through, I am coming, ME.
I saw a cartoon once which showed a polite rational man getting into his car. All was OK until he put his key into the ignition and drove off, then all of a sudden he turned into a dog with sharp teeth and saliva dribbling from his mouth. He roared along the road, narrowly missing other cars and people, shouting and sounding his horn at the other drivers, who had also turned into dogs.
So there we have it. The battle goes on daily and as we share the road with the other road users, it would be good to ask ourselves "can others deduce from the way I drive that I am a Christian?"
So what are we to do? Get hold of a very bassy version of "Amazing Grace" and cruise around the streets playing it at several decibels? Or perhaps plaster the car with bumper stickers spelling out obscure snippets from the Bible. e.g. Jeremiah 46:9
One traveller stopped to help another traveller who had run into trouble and was now being helped by a man who was using the same road.
"Who is my neighbour?" Jesus was asked, and so he told the story of the good Samaritan. Now we know the story, but consider this, did Jesus use the illustration of people travelling because he knew that that was when we had the least time for others, hearts set on getting to where we want to go, nothing is to stop us? He told that story knowing that those who listened would not like the person he chose for the story's hero, a Samaritan, well you would expect them to pass you by on the other side wouldn't you, they're not like those decent fellows, Pharisees and Priests. Yet when driving, most of us behave like the Pharisees and Priest and pass by on the other side, given the opportunity.
The problem with driving is that we are each on a mission to get somewhere, and apart from the occupants of our car all other people on the road are strangers. We do not know them and therefore act in our own interest only.
When Jesus answered the question "and who is my neighbour?" his answer basically said anyone, even the people that you do not know. In the parable of the Good Samaritan we have a man from a culture that is not respected by the other, helping the Jew because he was in need, even though he did not know him. So when we are on the road, think of the other road users not as strangers but as neighbours.
Why not stop for people on crossings, give way to that car turning out of the road ahead, acknowledge when you make a mistake, be more forgiving towards those who upset you for what ever reason, even if they will not acknowledge it.
As I turned into my road, a 4x4 took up the whole road coming the other way. "Typical", I thought as it came nearer, "hog the road in an unnecessarily large car". Then, "Hello Lee". It was my neighbour. Oh well, he can be forgiven it, but if I hadn't known him he would have remained condemned in my eyes. What a strange way to judge people. I don't understand why he wants to drive around in such a vehicle, but then he probably thinks I am strange for driving around in my old camper van.
So go out there and love your fellow motorist and remember, "he who is without sin cast the first stone".

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