I talk about loving people, a lot. Not because I’m super good at it, but because I believe it was the most important commandment from Jesus. He spoke of it often, and called us to love everyone, no matter what. But just because Jesus said so, doesn’t make it easy. I fail at this often. Not that I am intentionally mean, but I do not always go out of my way to show love. I do not always make the most loving decision. Sometimes I am selfish. Sometimes I am tired, and I just don’t want to do that extra thing, when deep inside, I know it’s something I should. Sometimes I become resentful of those I feel may be using me, or those who are not always loving toward me. Humans are a complicated species, and there are a lot of emotions wrapped up in the decisions we make each day. And the truth is, we are often so far in our own heads, that we miss opportunities to show love and kindness.
I have often used driving in traffic as an example of this. There is something about being behind that wheel, and surrounded by tons of metal, that makes us bold, self-righteous, and entiled in our anger, and selfish in our choices. I mean, no one else on the road could possibly have anything more important to do than we do, right? We drive with blinders on, not that we don’t see that guy trying to get over into our lane at the last minute, but we are convinced that our journey is more important than his.
Am I wrong?
This driving in traffic scenario is much like our lives. We get so wrapped up in our own journey, our own goals, that we don’t make room for anyone trying to reach theirs. Cut throat competition opens between corporations. Doing things out of character to get ahead of competitors, becomes normal, and we excuse it by telling ourselves that they did it first. Maybe, sometimes, that’s true, but should it matter?
The Bible says it should not. If Jesus was clear about anything, it was love. As imperfect humans, we often withhold our love and forgiveness, like children with a grudge, unable to see someone else’s story, or value someone else’s journey.
Can you imagine what this world might look like, if we all strived to put this into practice? If everyone was earnestly looking out for the interest of others, everyone’s needs could be met.
Life is messy. Life is chaotic and busy, but in this traffic jam of life, if we took our blinders off for just a minute, and acknowledged that blinker, maybe we could slow down for a minute, and show our neighbor that we value their journey as much as our own.