REAR VIEW MIRROR
Praise be to God for keeping me alert and awake on my drive home from about midnight until noon today. I was thinking about how significant the traffic in our life is even though we are tuned out to our surroundings most of the time. Not only do we spend so much time thinking about where we are going, but we miss so much scenery on the way there because of our preoccupation with what's next. We get in pointless arguments about the directions instead of trusting God and looking at the map. We are eye witnesses to wrecks and tragedies and dilemmas everday of our lives. Most of the time we do not stop to see if we can be of assistance or we do not use our immediate resources to benefit others (prayer is powerful). We have no idea who is next to us, behind us, in front of us, but we keep forging ahead and pressing on, striving to make progress and get to where we are going.
If some one messes up as we are travelling down the road, we yell at them or honk our horn and think to ourselves or sometimes blurt it out loud, "Hey, what's a matter with you?! What's your problem!? Watch where you're going!! Stay in your own lane!! Speed up slow poke! Slow down speed racer!" Regardless of what's going on with every one else, if they are not doing what we think they should be doing...we assume something's wrong with them or that they are being careless or doing it on purpose.
Nevermind the facts, that not everyone is free from disabilities or short-sightedness or misperceptions and just plain cannot see or read the signs. They could have just blown a gasket or snapped a belt and are helplessly trying to make it over to the shoulder safely. Maybe without even realizing it our reaction for them getting in our way or causing us to slow down is a dirty look and speeding on passed them.
How can we be so unkind when we ourselves swerve, fall asleep at the wheel, have flat tires, forget to turn our lights on, don't use our turn signal, drive slow in the fast lane, and then we still manage to find fault with other drivers who we do not know. We should look in the mirror. But half the time we do not have a mirror, because our mirror is cracked or broken or does not exist anymore because it's been smashed to bits from driving too close to trashcans and mailboxes or other vehicles. Maybe it would be wise to stop treating others as if their breakdowns are such an inconvenience to us all.
Maybe we should reflect on the mercy of God and remember the times when we have been helped. Someone pulled over and asked what was the problem? Someone offered something that they had to help you on your way. Someone brought you some gas when you ran out, paid for a new battery or helped you by using their tools and supplies to fix what was broken. The person wanted nothing in return and most likely did not realize that they were a gift from God or an answer to prayer. More than likely the person did not point out what you could have or should have done differently, they were just glad to offerwhat they had in hopes of it helping and getting you going again.
What's the traffic report looking like where you are?
"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes." Ephesians 1:4-5
If some one messes up as we are travelling down the road, we yell at them or honk our horn and think to ourselves or sometimes blurt it out loud, "Hey, what's a matter with you?! What's your problem!? Watch where you're going!! Stay in your own lane!! Speed up slow poke! Slow down speed racer!" Regardless of what's going on with every one else, if they are not doing what we think they should be doing...we assume something's wrong with them or that they are being careless or doing it on purpose.
Nevermind the facts, that not everyone is free from disabilities or short-sightedness or misperceptions and just plain cannot see or read the signs. They could have just blown a gasket or snapped a belt and are helplessly trying to make it over to the shoulder safely. Maybe without even realizing it our reaction for them getting in our way or causing us to slow down is a dirty look and speeding on passed them.
How can we be so unkind when we ourselves swerve, fall asleep at the wheel, have flat tires, forget to turn our lights on, don't use our turn signal, drive slow in the fast lane, and then we still manage to find fault with other drivers who we do not know. We should look in the mirror. But half the time we do not have a mirror, because our mirror is cracked or broken or does not exist anymore because it's been smashed to bits from driving too close to trashcans and mailboxes or other vehicles. Maybe it would be wise to stop treating others as if their breakdowns are such an inconvenience to us all.
Maybe we should reflect on the mercy of God and remember the times when we have been helped. Someone pulled over and asked what was the problem? Someone offered something that they had to help you on your way. Someone brought you some gas when you ran out, paid for a new battery or helped you by using their tools and supplies to fix what was broken. The person wanted nothing in return and most likely did not realize that they were a gift from God or an answer to prayer. More than likely the person did not point out what you could have or should have done differently, they were just glad to offerwhat they had in hopes of it helping and getting you going again.
What's the traffic report looking like where you are?
"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes." Ephesians 1:4-5
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