Left

This morning I was driving along as usual on my way to drop off my son at school.  We were having a nice time just singing and talking in the car when I came up to the spot where I needed to make a left turn.  I waited for the oncoming traffic to come to a stop so I could get by like I do every day.

Suddenly I saw my opportunity when one lane stopped but I noticed the far left outer lane just came to a crawl so I was afraid to go ahead since I had no idea if he would stop or not. The driver looks at me in anger mouthing something that seemed to express his annoyance at my need for turning at that particular spot . Waving his hands and yelling something (mind you there was no where for him to go, he would just be blocking the intersection).  I was confused and literally asked “What?” as I lifted my shoulders.

This enraged him and he proceeded to show me a hand gesture that completely floored me. My son was shocked to see how angry this stranger was and how rude he had become in a matter of seconds.  I did nothing.  I just turned left and kept driving.  I did nothing because as silly as it sounds, my feelings were hurt. I mean one minute we’re singing and just like that the sweet lyrics turned sour.  I let this rob my joy, change my mood and I briefly shut down.

What had I done to this “stranger” that warranted such an insult?  I know some people might say I gave it too much thought but honestly there was so much more behind it and it hurt. Can you believe that my son took hold of my hand and actually apologized to me?  For what? He didn’t do anything to me.  No, but he saw the offense on my face.  I couldn’t hide it. He was offended for me and wanted to make me feel better. I gathered my thoughts and simply told him (as calmly as I could) that I felt sorry for that man.  That I found what he did to be disgusting and insulting but…I felt sorry for him.  My son replied with “I don’t, not one bit”.

I totally understood my sons response and even appreciated the support he gave me in saying so, but I wanted him to learn that we need to live a different way.  We need to live the “W.W.J.D.”(What Would Jesus Do) way.  That’s really hard isn’t it? It felt literally impossible at that precise moment, but I felt a nudge telling me it was still what needed to be done. My initial reaction was to ignore it and stay upset but the nudge wouldn’t go away. It’s hard to argue with that.  My “self” was wanting to yell and say things to retaliate for the offense but I just went inward struggling with thoughts of anger versus choosing to do what was right.

I felt my son watching me, wondering, and feeling sorry for me. He was still holding my hand as if trying to console me. So I broke the silence as I came to my senses and said “what that man did was disgusting and ridiculous.  He needs prayer”.  My son was not happy with that answer and mentioned how the stranger was an idiot and shouldn’t have treated me that way.  I had to agree but I also said ”this stranger’s life must be so empty that the simplest of things will set him off.  Maybe he has a rough life.  I don’t know, but he needs prayer.”

This world can be a rough place always willing to pull you off course

I can’t ask my children to “do right” if I’m not willing to be an example.  Some might think I’m being exaggerated with this whole thing. I mean it was just a left turn people, a rude guy and a blip in time. If I would have never turned I could have avoided the whole incident but then again I would have never gotten to my destination.

The way I see it, is that “left” turn represents the difficult things we need to do as Christians. How sometimes this means we need to go against the traffic of the world which is not always easy and can even cause us pain and repercussions.Though in the end it will be worth it as long as the road we’re traveling is headed straight toward Christ.

So let them think I’m exaggerated. I would rather lean more to the kind of thinking that I don’t want to change or turn just because the world says so.  I want to change and live the way Christ says so. That might make me look weak to the “world” but I have no interest in conforming.   As flawed as I am I need to keep my eyes on Christ and travel in which ever direction He guides.

 Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.  Lead me by your truth and teach me,for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.

Psalm 25:4-5

I pray that you trust in the Lord, keep Him close to your heart and don’t let this world throw you off course. If God says turn left…you turn left.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

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