I have one pet peeve when I’m driving. There is no greater offense that can launch me into road rage faster. I’ll be driving at a safe driving distance of two to three car lengths behind a vehicle, typically a truck, in the left lane while passing. Then it happens: a driver speeds up on the right, cuts in dangerously in front of me, and steps on the brakes to match the speed of traffic.
The offending driver is almost always impatient, unwilling to wait for the flow of traffic in the passing lane. They zip ahead, cut dangerously close and force me to hit my brakes.
At that moment, I felt like a child on the playground shouting, “Hey, she budged!”
It is not clear to me which upsets me more. The fact that I’m clearly following the rules and someone else isn’t. The feeling of fear when a reckless move puts me at risk. Or, the idea that the other driver doesn’t think she has to wait for her turn to pass. Each equally multiplies my frustration.
Over time, my reactions have varied. Sometimes I’ve sped up, determined to close the gap and leave the offending driver no choice but to slow down and get back in the passing lane behind me. Rarely, I mutter something like “What an idiot!” But more often, and the response of choice this past week, I have slammed on the horn long and loud to make sure they know how I feel. I might even have used a hand gesture to express my displeasure.
Yet, miles down the road, the driver has sped away unaffected by my rage, and I am still sweating with an elevated pulse and angry thoughts. I’ve completely abandoned my peace.
As I continued to drive and fume on the incident, I saw a billboard that read “Repay evil with good.” Of course, I did. Love always finds a way to meet me on the road of life, reminding me of a better way to respond..
Scriptures I’ve known all my life came flooding back: if someone slaps you on the cheek, turn the other cheek also. If anyone wants to take your shirt, give him your coat too. In humility, consider others above yourself. Look not only to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Do to others what you would have them do to you.
In that quiet moment, I exhaled. In a world filled with so much division and angst, I want to choose grace over grievance. When someone “budges” on the highway of life, love can still merge gently and peace is always an option.