From the Editor
Rules of the Road
This summer was another milestone in the life of my daughter and me, and was another step toward her independence. She completed drivers’ education class last semester, so we took advantage of every opportunity to earn the required 25 hours of behind-the-wheel experience before getting her license.
It was a good lesson for me in reviewing the rules of the road and a reminder that nothing is as important as arriving at your destination safely. A new driver is cautious. They’re not sure how much time they have to negotiate a turn or move into another lane before making a turn; they don’t know exactly how to get to the final destination even though they had been passengers many times before when traveling to the familiar shopping mall, grocery store, friend’s house, orthodontics office, etc.
Construction signs, lane reductions, and detours are confusing to the experienced driver but frightening to a young driver with just a few hours of driving experience. I regularly spoke words of encouragement like, “Take your time,” “Go when you’re ready,” “Don’t worry about the car behind you,” “Ok, it’s safe to change lanes,” “He can pass if he’s in a hurry,” “Slow down,” and even “Speed up.” I suggested we find whatever parking spot she felt comfortable moving into—finding the closest parking spot was not the prize. Turning off the cell phone while driving is the best thing, I reminded her, as the phone ringing is a distraction—more so than the radio. Full attention should be given to the task at hand.
By the end of the summer, I relaxed a bit on my instructions, and she confidently moved from the 10-and-two handgrip to a more relaxed and comfortable position on the steering wheel. Now when a driver pulls out in front of me, or I get behind a “Sunday afternoon” driver, I’m more tolerant. As I idled behind a long line of vehicles waiting to turn left onto a busy highway partially blocked with construction, I wondered if the first driver was perhaps inexperienced, and maybe out on the road by himself for the first time.
When my daughter begins driving by herself in a few weeks, I pray she and other drivers will be cautious and patient and drive smart. I received this prayer from a friend, author unknown, and wanted to pass it on as a gentle reminder to us all to be more patient.
A Different Kind of Prayer
Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and was rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can’t make change correctly is a worried 19-year old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.
Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum begging for money in the same spot every day is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
It was a good lesson for me in reviewing the rules of the road and a reminder that nothing is as important as arriving at your destination safely. A new driver is cautious. They’re not sure how much time they have to negotiate a turn or move into another lane before making a turn; they don’t know exactly how to get to the final destination even though they had been passengers many times before when traveling to the familiar shopping mall, grocery store, friend’s house, orthodontics office, etc.
Construction signs, lane reductions, and detours are confusing to the experienced driver but frightening to a young driver with just a few hours of driving experience. I regularly spoke words of encouragement like, “Take your time,” “Go when you’re ready,” “Don’t worry about the car behind you,” “Ok, it’s safe to change lanes,” “He can pass if he’s in a hurry,” “Slow down,” and even “Speed up.” I suggested we find whatever parking spot she felt comfortable moving into—finding the closest parking spot was not the prize. Turning off the cell phone while driving is the best thing, I reminded her, as the phone ringing is a distraction—more so than the radio. Full attention should be given to the task at hand.
By the end of the summer, I relaxed a bit on my instructions, and she confidently moved from the 10-and-two handgrip to a more relaxed and comfortable position on the steering wheel. Now when a driver pulls out in front of me, or I get behind a “Sunday afternoon” driver, I’m more tolerant. As I idled behind a long line of vehicles waiting to turn left onto a busy highway partially blocked with construction, I wondered if the first driver was perhaps inexperienced, and maybe out on the road by himself for the first time.
When my daughter begins driving by herself in a few weeks, I pray she and other drivers will be cautious and patient and drive smart. I received this prayer from a friend, author unknown, and wanted to pass it on as a gentle reminder to us all to be more patient.
A Different Kind of Prayer
Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and was rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can’t make change correctly is a worried 19-year old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.
Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum begging for money in the same spot every day is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.
Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts, not just to those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judgment and quick to forgiveness and patience and empathy and love. Amen.