Not Eye For An Eye

1 Peter 2:19-25

Lately I've been watching how I behave while driving on the freeway. I tend to be one of those people who will drive close to the car in front of me so as not to let others cut in front. I'm not talking about other cars merging in, I always make room for them. I'm talking about the ones who take the outside lanes to get to the merge as fast as they can and try to sneak in at the last minute.

What I've been noticing is how I get tense and on the verge of anger whenever I get in those driving situations, even though nobody is trying to cut in. And, to be honest, someone trying to cut in front of me in that way is very rare. So, why do I do what I do?

I don't know...maybe it's because I want to dish it out before I get it. You know, an eye for an eye before my eye is actually taken out.

The truth is that letting a car or two cut in front of me really doesn't change anything; I'm still in bumper to bumper traffic and I'm still going to get home when I do. Again I have to ask myself why I do what I do.

Today's passage helps to remind me that behavior breeds behavior. If I drive, or behave in any situation, with anger I am sure those around me are feeding off my emotion and becoming angry themselves. At least that's how I feel when someone drives to close to my rear bumper or doesn't let me cut in.

I've always said that the most difficult place to be a Christian is on the freeway. I think from this point forward I'll be trying a lot harder.