On the Way to an Accident

Recently a motor vehicle accident happened right in front of me. While sitting in the right hand turn lane, the car ahead of me pulled out and hit a vehicle that was going through the intersection. The SUV driver and passenger who were not doing a thing wrong, were broadsided. Fortunately, the driver was able to keep some control. The SUV bounced, tilted, and amazingly stayed upright. The driver found her way to an area off the shoulder out of oncoming traffic. The other driver, who caused the whole thing managed to land her vehicle about 30 feet from the other. A law enforcement officer was right behind me in line, so he responded immediately to the scene.

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Have you ever witnessed an accident? It really does unfold in slow motion. You know the outcome is going to be bad and there's not one thing you can do about it. Then it's suddenly over and now the consequences have to be dealt with, not only by those directly involved, but many others.

How quickly we make wrong decisions! The driver in front of me was at the intersection for only a second or two before she pulled into traffic. I wondered after witnessing the accident what the driver was thinking as she sat on the shoulder of the road in her crumpled car. Was she blaming herself or the other driver? Maybe she was on her cellphone and was distracted, or maybe she was just plain impatient. If it had been me, what would I be thinking? Our first reaction or instinct is to protect ourselves. Survival.

There are a couple of observations that I drove away with that day. First--pay attention to what's going on around you. Don't be distracted by the unimportant and through carelessness ruin your day and someone else's. It only takes a split second to harm whether it's with our words or running a red light. Second --Don't be in such a hurry. I'm so guilty of this one many times, just ask my husband. If the offending driver was late and just trying to beat the SUV, she was really late after her bad decision.

If you make enough bad decisions over a period of time, the habit can be hard to break. Your life may begin to resemble a wreck on the side of the road. You also involve innocent bystanders and any passengers that are with you. But, you can change. However, that's a decision you'll have to make. God gives us so many opportunities to leave the wreckage we've made, and get back on the road.

Find great driving instructions in Romans 12. Following them will keep you on the right road. Verses 1-3 below are the introduction. Reading the whole chapter--it's only 21 verses is worthwhile. This  short chapter is really a handbook for daily Christian living--practical and doable with God's help.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Romans 12:1-3 NLT

So as that old Greyhound commercial says, "Leave the driving to us," move over and let the One who never makes a bad decision get in the driver's seat.