Is she trying to cut into my lane?
How dare she?
She is on the left turn lane.
She must be one of those people who drive on the left turn lane and change lane in the last minute to cut through the traffic.
I hate people like that. Break the rules so they can gain ahead.
It is so unfair.
She must be looking for some poor sucker to let her in. Well, I ain’t going to be that sucker.
I don’t like being use. Stuck in traffic on a Friday after work. We are all trying to head back home. The sun is strong and is beating down on us.
As I and many drivers sit there waiting for the red. I glance at this car trying to turn into my lane. No wonder why she stops so far behind the car in front of her. She is trying to get more space to turn into my lane.
…
No one is going any where.
It is at this pivotal point, I thought about grace. The sermon that I listen to again and again about grace and forgiveness.
Grace is to give a gift to someone who don’t deserve it.
…
So I should show her grace? Why? She has no right. I am in control. I have the power. I can simply nudge my car a bit forward. Cut her off. Or I can turn my head when she looks over to indicate I won’t let her pass.
…
It is funny how a little drive back home can bring a lesson of grace back home even more.
A daily occurrence in life reflects a darker sinister part of the soul. The part that loves the sinful nature….
…
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
…
I understand now. I breathe in and relax a bit. I will let her pass.
Before the light turns green, the car, instead of turning into my lane, sped up and getting ready to make a turn to the left…
I reflected on the thoughts and the emotions I just gone through.
Surely, if I offer her ‘grace‘, how much would it cost me? Maybe ten more seconds on the road?
These ten seconds reveal to me more about myself and my sinful nature….
Funny how in those few seconds of my life, I understand more clearly on what it means to offer grace than all the sermons and books I read…..
Paul…did mention Galatians 5:13 to love your neighbor as yourself. In that letter, Paul’s context are those within the church. Surely, this can be apply to outside of church as well….
AMEN!!!
