Just ‘Cause You Can Cut Someone Off Doesn’t Mean You Should

Disclaimer: This is a playful post intended to be a public service message.

I watched a hilarious short video with actors walking down the sidewalks reenacting how people drive. They were walking but acted like they were driving and treated each other the way we do while driving. People yelling at each other, sending hand signals, and walking past each other aggressively with dirty looks as they passed one another. I loved it.

I thought of our church parking lot. The lines driving in and out of church can be cumbersome. One attender caught me while I was serving and said, “This parking lot is an issue. It’s hard to find a spot!” Even though I don’t mind navigating parking at church and am glad so many are there, I wanted to relate and calm him down so I said, “I know! Finding a spot can be hard.” A number of us talked with him until he calmed down and then he went into church.

Some of us “walk” like a Christian but drive like, well… [you fill in the blank].

I was leaving our church parking lot one Sunday morning. There I sat in a long line of cars waiting to turn on the main boulevard where many (if not all) of the cars passing by had pulled out of the church lot from the other driveway, AND they were not letting any of the cars in from the other side. I thought to myself, “How rude!” All these people just went to church and they were not letting any cars in. In previous Sundays when on that boulevard I’d stop to let a good number of cars turn into our lane.

There was one Sunday, while I was letting other cars in, I heard honking because the car(s) behind me were irritated that I was allowing cars in. Laughing to myself, I thought about the humorous video I had seen about “if we walked like we drove.”

I get it. We can all get caught up in getting where we are going and not thinking about what’s around us. We all have our “moments.” I know I had to change my mentality when I flew. I was allowing the anxiety while trying to catch a flight to affect my conduct. Sometimes I’d be so focused on getting to my seat and getting my luggage in the overhead bin (I don’t want to check a bag!) that I wasn’t proud of the way I was acting. I felt very convicted and changed my “flying attitude.”

One day God nudged me and let me know I wasn’t representing Him well in my “flying conduct” and a change needed to happen. I realized I needed to be more selfless and represent kindness and grace while flying, no matter what level of anxiousness and urgency I felt. My conduct was more important than my seat or luggage or place in line. I learned God would take care of the details as long as I conducted myself well. Now, demeanor is my focus, even when it’s hard.

God renews our life and our hearts but sometimes we leave our driving habits behind.

“Do not lie to one another, since you stripped off the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it—a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free, but Christ is all, and in all. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” – Colossians 3:9-12

I end with this…

For goodness’ sake people let cars in while you’re driving…especially at and around church.

For more from Lucille Williams check out her books, From Me to We, and The Intimacy You Crave. Have kids? Order a copy of The Impossible Kid: Parenting a Strong-Willed Child with Love and Grace or Turtle Finds His Talent for ages 2-6. Subscribe to LuSays today for regular encouragement.