Saturday, February 10, 2007
Am I Who I Say I Am?
I have to admit that I can get very frustrated with people when driving. This has always been an issue with me although I have been a lot better about it the last several years. I’ve always admired how Todd handles what is going on around him when driving. He seems to just drive without ever being bothered by the rude people that cut him off or tailgate him. How does he do that? I’ve always wondered. I think I’ll always be bothered by those people. It is just in my DNA. LOL!
Years ago I would respond by doing similar things back to them in order to “teach them a lesson”. That was not a very smart thing to do let alone a very Christian thing to do. I realized I had a problem with this and have made a very conscious effort to think first before reacting. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn’t. I often have a conversation with myself in which I tell myself that I know what the right thing to do is and to do that instead of what I really want to do. I ask God to help me to calm down and not react. I guess I take it personally when someone is driving erratic around me. I realize though that they do this to everyone not just me. Somehow that makes me feel better. I’m sure the other people don’t though. LOL! I am doing so much better with this. Yes – it still bothers me when people are rude on the road but I try to do the right thing which is just to let them around me and not let it bother me.
A friend of mine sent me this story that really hit home with me. It makes me think – if I say I’m a Christian – am I truly what I say I am?
A man is being tailgated by a stressed-out woman on a busy Boulevard. Suddenly, the light turns yellow, just in front of him. He does the honest thing, and stops at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.
The tailgating woman hits the roof, and the horn, screaming in frustration as she misses her chance to get through the intersection with him. As she is still in mid-rant, she hears a tap on her window and looks up into the face of a very serious police officer.
The officer orders her to exit her car with her hands up. He takes her to the police station where she is searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a cell.
After a couple of hours, a policeman approaches the cell and opens the door. She is escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer is waiting with her personal effects.
He says, "I'm very sorry for this mistake."
"You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping the guy off in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him."
"I noticed the "Choose Life" license plate holder, the "What Would Jesus Do" bumper sticker, the "Follow Me to Sunday School" bumper sticker, and the chrome plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk."
"Naturally I assumed you had stolen the car."
Years ago I would respond by doing similar things back to them in order to “teach them a lesson”. That was not a very smart thing to do let alone a very Christian thing to do. I realized I had a problem with this and have made a very conscious effort to think first before reacting. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn’t. I often have a conversation with myself in which I tell myself that I know what the right thing to do is and to do that instead of what I really want to do. I ask God to help me to calm down and not react. I guess I take it personally when someone is driving erratic around me. I realize though that they do this to everyone not just me. Somehow that makes me feel better. I’m sure the other people don’t though. LOL! I am doing so much better with this. Yes – it still bothers me when people are rude on the road but I try to do the right thing which is just to let them around me and not let it bother me.
A friend of mine sent me this story that really hit home with me. It makes me think – if I say I’m a Christian – am I truly what I say I am?
A man is being tailgated by a stressed-out woman on a busy Boulevard. Suddenly, the light turns yellow, just in front of him. He does the honest thing, and stops at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.
The tailgating woman hits the roof, and the horn, screaming in frustration as she misses her chance to get through the intersection with him. As she is still in mid-rant, she hears a tap on her window and looks up into the face of a very serious police officer.
The officer orders her to exit her car with her hands up. He takes her to the police station where she is searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a cell.
After a couple of hours, a policeman approaches the cell and opens the door. She is escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer is waiting with her personal effects.
He says, "I'm very sorry for this mistake."
"You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping the guy off in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him."
"I noticed the "Choose Life" license plate holder, the "What Would Jesus Do" bumper sticker, the "Follow Me to Sunday School" bumper sticker, and the chrome plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk."
"Naturally I assumed you had stolen the car."
Name:
1 Comments:
Yes, that story has reformed ME in a big way, too. Now I try to imagine everyone on the road goes to MY church and that tends to give me a little more compassion towards others!
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