April 17, 2008

I consider myself to be a pretty mild-mannered guy. Most of the time. But lately, I've noticed that something seems to change when I get behind the steering wheel of a car.

That mild-mannered nature soon gives way to something else. Not sure what, exactly. Power. Aggressiveness. Ambition. Competitiveness.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way. So many people seem to change completely when they get behind the wheel. As if we all change from whatever we happen to be into world-class race car drivers just one lap away from winning the big race.

"Yes I am the king of the road! How dare you get in my way! Drive slowly? Not in front of me you don't! If you don't have some place to go, get out of my way! Pay attention to the world around you!"

Now I don't generally yell at people while I'm driving down the road, but those are some of the thoughts that have gone through my head from time to time. And I don't think you have to worry about me and road rage. But still, I can get rather frustrated at times.

Just the other day, I was driving down the road when someone in the lane next to me suddenly slowed down and put on his blinker, wanting to be in the lane I was in. I could have done the Christianly thing and slowed down to let them over. But instead, I thought, "It's not my fault that you don't know which lane you need to be in! You can wait until I've passed you to get over here!"

And then I see other people driving badly and wonder, "How did they ever get a driver's license?" One guy veered across three lanes of traffic just to get to his exit on the interstate, putting all of us in just a bit of danger.

As I think bad thoughts about overagressive drivers such as that guy, I start to wonder - do people see me as the same way? When I don't stop to let someone in front of me, am I acting the same way? Is there a double standard - is what I consider okay for me to do what I find offensive in others?

So what is the point of trying to get just one car ahead? There aren't any prizes for getting where I'm going first. Maybe I just need to slow down and take it easy.

I'll try to leave a note to that effect in the car, so that my "driving self" can find it and read it.

So the last will be first, and the first will be last. - Matthew 20:16

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