I am not a bad driver. I’m not perfect, but I only do something stupid maybe 1 in every 10 trips. I’ll wave my hand and smile apologetically at the person I offfended, and then continue on my way like nothing happened.
But something did happen: I just reinforced that person’s idea that the city is full of terrible drivers. I put him up a notch in his own self-estimation, because at least he doesn’t drive like that. I know this is true because I have the same feeling when someone cuts in front of me with a wave and an apologetic smile.
When I encounter a person who does something irresponsible on the highway, I will immediately pass judgment, final and immutable. He’s a bad driver. I know nothing else about him. It may be the only driving mistake he’s made all year. He may be a tremendous father, a loyal husband, or the author of a good book I’ve read, but none of that matters. By remaining in the intersection a little too long this one time, he becomes nothing more than a statistic which allows me to feel better about myself.
Quick to judge, slow to show grace. I have been forgiven, and yet I don’t forgive. (What is it about driving? On my own feet I would forgive anyone for anything. I would turn the other cheek and I would show love in proportion to the amount that I am loved by God. But when I am in control of a large machine, I somehow feel that I am the machine, and cars do not need to love or forgive each other.)
Forgiveness is a release of any resentment or offense toward another person. It is a waiver of justice. It also means you’re not allowed to tell others about it, to use it in your stories when you make small talk. And it’s these little offenses that we most need to forgive, the offenses from people we do not know and will likely never see again, because these are the offenses that we’re least likely to even think to forgive.
This means forgive the coworker for using too many comma splices in his emails. Forgive the mother with the screaming child at the department store. Forgive the graffiti artist for tagging the building you have to look at on your way to church every week.
Why? Because those people you see as you travel, as you buy, as you socialize, as you workâthey’re Jesus! Every last one of them is Jesus.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and at the same time, did not enjoy thinking about how and where and when and how VERY often I put myself above others. Very pointed and true.
I hope all is going well with you and Amanda in DM. We miss you!