Tag Archives: traffic

get home safe

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I credit my reckless fearless driving style to being raised in Africa, where it doesn’t matter if the traffic lights happen to be working or not, people just do what they want. One night, shortly after getting my American license, I came to a yellow light. Taking a risk, I sped through it just as it turned red, and whomp whomp, flashing lights appeared in my rearview mirror. The officer came to the window and asked me why I hadn’t stopped. I politely explained to him that if I wasn’t home by eleven, my mom started to get worried and it was already 11:02. He nodded thoughtfully and said, “I understand, but what your mother probably really cares about is that you get home safe.” And then he wrote me a ticket. I was super disappointed, but I knew it was true. My mom would much prefer a few minutes of worry to getting a call from the hospital. As annoying as waiting at a light is, it’s necessary, because the goal of driving is to reach your destination- safely.

While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God. -Hebrews 12:10-11

Whenever I try to talk to my coworkers about my personal life, there’s a disconnect. I had a girl I barely know literally yell at me when she found out that my boyfriend and I don’t live together. She was so angry because apparently, we are never going to know if we are compatible and that is the end of the world. By the end of her public outburst, I felt more than a little embarrassed, added to the inner guilt I feel every day when Mike makes a two hour roundtrip to see me. According to God, we’re at a red light until marriage, but all around me others are running that red light with seemingly zero consequences.

The law of the Lord is perfect. It gives us new strength.
The laws of the Lord can be trusted. They make childish people wise.
The rules of the Lord are right.  They give joy to our hearts.
The commands of the Lord shine brightly. They give light to our minds.
The law that brings respect for the Lord is pure. It lasts forever.
The directions the Lord gives are true. All of them are completely right.
I am warned by them. When I obey them, I am greatly rewarded. -Psalms19:7-9,11

Perfect. Can be trusted. Gives joy and light. Pure. True. Completely right. Greatly rewarding. It’s not fun at the time. Trust me, I know. But God’s commands are like traffic lights, helping us to not only get home safe, but to get there in the black.

-lf

behind a truck

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Even though I live less than 20 miles from the metro station, it can easily become an hour trip with rush hour traffic. Oh the joys of being a Northern Virginian commuter. Because of my great love of sleep, I’ve become adept at navigating this treacherous trip as efficiently as possible. I know exactly what time I need to leave, what lights change the fastest, which Starbucks has the shortest line, and what lane out of the four on 66 will ultimately get me there fastest. I’ve studied the Weavers, watching them swerve back and forth between lanes, but by the time we reach the exit all their activity hasn’t made a difference, so I stay in my well chosen lane, and 9 times out of 10 I exit before them. Sometimes though, especially when I’m extra tired, my magic lane doesn’t seem to be working. I start to notice the trip is taking longer than usual. People are passing me but I’m not passing anyone. I try to resist the temptation to change lanes, having been suckered into that route before only to come to a complete stop while my previous lane surges forward. I can only resist the urge for so long however, before I take the plunge and switch lanes. And the worst feeling is when I pull in to the other lane and realize that traffic isn’t actually that bad. It’s actually moving freely for miles. I just couldn’t see it because I was behind a truck.

As frustrating as that is, what’s worse is when I come to this realization in my personal life. I’m just sailing along on dreams of the big picture, of what I’m going to accomplish, of my 3-5 year plan, of the things that I think are important, and I don’t even notice the 40mph semi in front of my face. The “little” things that have piled up and are slowing me down.

  • Gossip.
  • Lies.
  • Selfishness.
  • Unforgiveness.
  • Jealousy.
  • Discontent.

Ugly words. Ugly words that I hate to associate with who I am, but my loathing doesn’t change the facts; that even the slightest indulgence in any of these sins will begin to slow me down, and that it happens more often than it should.

-Letting that malicious tone tint my stories.
-Exaggerating situations and events.
-Not freely giving what I have freely received.
-Withholding affection because I was wronged.
-Wishing I could live down the road from my mom too.
-Wondering why I’m not further ahead than I am.

Jesus said, “Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life- to God! – is vigorous and requires your total attention.” (Luke 13:24 MSG)

Your total attention. I don’t want to live on autopilot, only to discover that I’ve been stuck behind a truck, wasting valuable time. I want to live the life that Jesus intended for me. Effectively. Profitably. Strategically.

I want to live in the black.

-lf