The Rules of the Road

Generally, I am an un-angry person. But lately I have found myself influenced by the culture of the road.

I never really understood road rage. I did not understand how a kind hearted person could transform into something so other just because they are enclosed in their personal space of tin (Or whatever metal it is they use...car savvy I am not). The Road transforms mothers, activists, Wal Mart cashiers, philanthropists, knitters, CEOs, teachers. It swallows the wisest of the wise and the calm and peaceful ones and spits them out as something unrecognizable.

And I am not exempt. One day I was driving to work and a car behind me got out of my lane, switched to the lane next to me (that was ending in about 500 feet, mind you), and tried to speed up and pass me before his lane ended. Incredulous at the audacity of this vehicle, I sped up in defiant refusal. You shall not pass!, my heart declared as I mumbled about how impatient this person must be. The car was forced to take his rightful place behind me after his lane ran out. I relished my victory for a few minutes, but then I was overcome with conviction.

I am constantly reminding myself that I do not know anybody else's story. My heart can be so quick to judge, but I do not know who these other drivers are or where they are going. I do not know why they drive with an urgency that would permit them to push their way in front of others or act discourteously. I do not know if patience is their weakness or if they were having a bad day. And even if I knew any of these things, I would still be in no place to judge. Christ's love compels me. One version of the Bible says that Christ's love has moved me to such extremes that it has the first and last word in everything that I do. So WHY in the WORLD am I moved by the Road?

I have come up with several theories:

1) "It's a car, not a person." I have also found myself conveniently forgetting that inside that inconsiderate little sports car that just cut me off in the fast lane only to slow down again, is a person. Maybe we are so quick to unleash our anger on the road because we forget that we aren't yelling at colorful four-wheeled machines, but a mom and a teacher and (gasp) a fellow Christian.

2) "It's my way or the highway." I have driven with plenty of drivers, and have learned that the common sentiment on the road is that you need to get yours and look out for yourself. Defensive Driving, they call it. As soon as we start up our cars, we throw selflessness out the window and enter Me zone.

3) "Anonymity rules." Most of the time, we can be a jerk and get away with it because we know we won't run into that person ever again and they don't know who we are anyways. But there should be consistency between who you are inside and who you portray to the world. That's why it's usually the secret sin that tears us up the most.

I still shake my head when people cut me off and secretly hope they see my disapproval in their rearview mirror. But change is slowly coming... I'm learning to be a rule breaker.