"Road Respect Revisited"
Three rules for Christian drivers.
Sermon Preached by
The Reverend Dr. Bill Fritz
Sunday, May 15, 2005
Text: Acts 1:6-14
In the summer of 2002, my wife Joan and I had just returned from five years of ministry in Largo, Florida. It was a busy time as we were settling into, redecorating and refurbishing our new home in Toronto. We had just purchased some paint and were in our car travelling homeward. It was a lovely summer day, so we drove with our windows open as a cool breeze bathed our travel. As we stopped for a light, a taxicab pulled alongside. The driver shot out a barrage of invectives and obscenities at us. Momentarily, we were stunned. Joan was driving. (She is a much better driver than I am.) I was not aware of any driving error that she made. Nevertheless, the taxi driver continued with his yelling before he turned off and sped away.
We were both stupefied and shaken by this incident. I regretted that I did not take note of that man's taxi number, because I would have phoned him to determine what error we had made that had so violently upset him. I would have apologized: “Forgive us our trespasses.” In our five years of residence in Florida, we had never encountered such aggression and abusive language. However, our encounter with road rage was minor.
Now that we are back in Toronto, we are aware of daily violent incidents that are called road rage. In just the last three months, a driver was shot in a road confrontation. Two men received life-threatening injuries that York Region police have called one of the worst cases of road rage they have yet encountered and, more recently, a woman was killed in an incident of rage on the road. Road rage is escalating and our streets and roadways are becoming battlefields of aggression and violence.
This morning is Pentecost Sunday. This Sunday is knows as the Church's birthday. On this day, we celebrate God's gift of the Holy Spirit. You may therefore ask, “Isn't the subject of road rage somewhat trite and trivial for this Sunday?” I submit to you it is not.
Here are my reasons:
According to Tatyana Sulker of the Canadian Automobile Association aggressive driving is the major cause of all automobile accidents today.
Consider the high cost of such accidents - the loss of life, the number of adults and little children who are maimed or crippled. Consider the property damage and the lost productivity.
Consider also: You spend two hours a week on average at church, but you likely spend six to 10 hours a week in your car.
Consider that we, as Christians, can set the example with our driving. We can demonstrate the influence of a godly spirit. For the fruit of God's Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, humility and self-control.
But the two most important reasons for addressing road rage on Pentecost Sunday are these:
Jesus himself told us how to observe road etiquette. Jesus told us a very important story. In answer to the question, “Who is my neighbour?” Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan.
Your remember that story. A man was going from Jerusalem to Jericho. He fell among thugs who robbed him, beat him, stripped him and left him half-dead. A priest and Levite came by but they passed by on the other side. A Samaritan as he journeyed came to the place where the fallen man was, and he took care of him.
For us, the robbers are surely any kind of road violence. The priest and Levite are surely road apathy and the Samaritan is surely the road care that Jesus instructs us to exercise.
My second most important reason is this: On this Pentecost Sunday we celebrate the Christian church's birthday and on the Church's birthday Jesus gives us a birthday present and a birthday project. Jesus says, “And you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall be witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”
The birthday present Jesus gives to us is the Holy Spirit, his real presence with us in our daily living. The birthday project that Jesus gives to us is to be faithful Christian witnesses in our driving. By our driving we make a statement about our Christian faith. By our driving we contribute positively to the Kingdom of God.
At one time we used to sing, “They will know we are Christians by our love.” May they know that we are Christians by our driving. And even if we are only passengers, we too can make a Christian witness by our attitude and comments helpful to our drivers.
As we journey along the roadways I'd like to commend to you three rules for the road. Rule number one: Be aware; rule number two: Take care; rule number three: Say a prayer. Let's look at each of those rules in turn.
Rule number one is BE AWARE.
Jesus gave us a promise and a directive when he said, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall by my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” An authentic witness practises self-awareness.
One day a young mother and her kindergarten-age son were driving down the street. The inquisitive little boy asked, “Mom, why do the idiots come out only when Daddy is driving?” We need to practise self-awareness in our driving. We need to affirm our strengths in driving and we also need to pay attention to failings and foibles as we drive.
Have you heard the tragic story of Pete Rose? Pete Rose was one of the all-time greats in baseball. In his career he established more than seven world records. For two seasons he was a Golden Glove outfielder, and for two seasons he was voted Most Valuable Player in his league. Yet Peter Rose had a huge blind spot in his life. He carelessly ignored the rule prohibiting gambling on sports events. Peter Rose bet on all kinds of sports. He bet on baseball. He bet on his own team. Peter Rose ignored the blind spot in his athletic activities to his peril, and he was caught.
Later a chastened and wiser Pete Rose reflected, “I was aware of my records and my place in baseball history, but I was never aware of the boundaries. I was aware of my privileges, but not of my responsibilities.”
Pete Rose had a huge blind spot in his life. This outstanding ball player has been disgraced because he refused to deal with his blind spot. You and I need to be aware of our blind spots and we need to deal with them. We cannot be like the man who was in the examination room with his doctor who presented him with some harsh realities. “These x-rays,” said the doctor, “tell me that we'll have to perform surgery and it means you'll be in the hospital for at least two weeks.”
The man considered his options for a moment and then asked, “But couldn't you just touch up the x-rays?”
Cosmetic surgery will not do. Only an extreme makeover will work.
What might some of our blind spots in driving be? There are certain demons that certainly invade my attitude and lead me to uncharitable behaviour when I drive. Let me list for you some of the demons I have to deal with when I drive.
There is the demon of hurry. I speed to a late appointment. The demon of carelessness. I slide through an intersection on the amber light. The demon of impatience. When the moving traffic suddenly stops - as on the Don Valley Parkway - I get irritated. There is the demon of criticism I must deal with. Why don't drivers signal their turns? And the demon of revenge. When the driver ahead of me commits an infraction I am tempted to lean on my horn. These demons contribute to road rage and I must keep them tightly in their cages. For these are the demons of the robbers. These demons were not in the attitude of the Good Samaritan.
Rather, when you and I drive we need to recall Paul's great words:
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful. Love is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way. It is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice at wrong but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
I need to recall that spirit for my driving. Is my driving patient and kind? Is my driving jealous or boastful? Is my driving arrogant or rude? Does my driving insist on its own way? Is my driving irritable or resentful? Does my driving rejoice at wrong? Does my driving bear all things? Believe all things? Hope all things? Endure all things? During the coming week, let's resolve to be aware in our driving.
Rule number two for the road is TAKE CARE.
Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be witnesses in Jerusalem in all Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” We are called to be witnesses in our driving. This means driving by caring. In the story of the Good Samaritan, the robbers were aggressors. The priest and the Levite were apathetic. The Samaritan was caring. He cared for the man who had fallen among the aggressors.
How can we care?
Recently a new driver's education school opened in Toronto. I like what they give to their drivers at the end of the course. It's simply a sign the size of a license plate that has one word written on it: “Sorry.” It is difficult to communicate to other drivers when we make mistakes along the roadways, but perhaps such a sign is helpful.
Whenever possible, it is important for us to set a positive attitude. It is always right to apologize. Richard Bauman in Decision magazine tells this story: Late one evening, he was just leaving the supermarket parking lot when he made an error. He looked one way and turned in another, and just missed hitting a woman who had rushed out between two cars. Fortunately, she stopped just in time. She was enraged and yelled at him. He was angry, too. For although he had made an error, she had bolted out between two parked cars.
The incident left him thoroughly shaken. He pulled over and parked his car. He got out, still shaking, and prayed, “God, please give me the right words to speak.”
As he walked toward this woman he heard the fury in her voice as she said, “I'm going to report you.”
With a calmness that belied the turmoil he felt in his stomach, he said, “I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry that I gave you such a scare.”
The woman's mouth dropped open. She looked as though she couldn't believe what she was hearing. And the two of them parted in peace.
During the coming week, let's resolve to take care of others by being courteous and forgiving in our attitude.
Rule of the road number three, SAY A PRAYER.
Jesus said, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” We are called to be good witnesses in our manner of driving. But we are not alone. God offers to us the companionship of his Holy Spirit. Prayer is our connection to the Holy Spirit of God.
We ministers are often asked, “Does God answer prayer?” Unequivocally, you bet he does! But God does not always answer our prayers in the way we want. Yet if we really trust, God answers our every need.
A few years ago when we lived in Barrie, I went to a ministers' conference in Baltimore, Maryland with a fellow clergyman from Thornhill. The conference ended late Saturday night and my plan was that my friend would drop me off at Yorkdale, and I would catch the bus to Barrie. Unfortunately when we got to Yorkdale the last bus to Barrie had already left. The next day was Sunday and both of us had to preach. My friend offered to drive me to Barrie but I would not have it. When I was in the military we often hitchhiked, so I would hitchhike again. My friend let me off at the junction of Highway 7 and 400. I was confident I would get a ride, for there was a lot of traffic on the road, but after the first half hour of standing at the side of Highway 400 I began to lose my confidence. I berated myself for having refused my friend's offer. After another half hour, self-pity invaded my thoughts. Although it was May the morning cold was setting in. Now fear was gripping me. In a panic, I prayed, “God please help me.”
And my prayer was answered. A deep calm settled over me and I felt secure. Suddenly a car slowed down. I had a ride. My prayer was answered. As I ran to the waiting car, a flashing light on top of the car suddenly exploded in brilliant red. Police! The officer rolled down his window: “Do you know it's illegal to solicit rides on this highway?” Nevertheless the officer was kind. He told me I could fish for rides on the ramp. Shortly thereafter, I did get a ride. The point of my experience is not that I got a ride, but when I panicked I prayed and God through his gracious Spirit settled me with a spirit of calm. For there is no greater demon than panic; it can upset and unhinge us.
As we travel the roadways, may I suggest that we pray. Frank Lauback, that great Christian and founder of the World Literacy Movement frequently emphasized that prayer is our number-one resource to God's power. He charged that we pray so little and we expect so much. Dr. Lauback stated that he prayed as he went about his daily work. He prayed when he rode with others. He prayed as he drove. And he prayed as he was waiting for appointments. Dr. Lauback was a person of prayer. He said this about prayer: “Enough people praying enough will release into the human bloodstream the mightiest medicine in the universe. For we shall be channels through which God can exert his infinite power and love.”
Our roadways need this prayer power.
In our Handicapable Ministry our students travel from near and far. Some come from as far away as Woodbridge, Scarborough and Pickering. Most travel in vans with careful drivers at the wheel. One night a year ago, some of our students arrived for our ministry and they were visibly shaken. They had been frightened by a belligerent driver who was hostile and aggressive in his actions. My counsel to the students was, “Pray.” Pray for your driver and all the other drivers on the road.
Out of this conversation an idea was born. It is the prayer medallion. All of us drivers and passengers can make a big difference on our roadways if we pray. This prayer medallion reminds us to pray. The medallion carries the following prayer, “Gracious God, consecrate my driving with courtesy and patience for all travellers. Grant your travelling safety to all who ride within.”
Friends, I commend this prayer medallion to you. Hang it up under your rearview mirror. Pray before you drive. You may pick up a medallion for your friends who drive. For our radio and Internet listeners, if you send us your names and addresses we shall make certain that you receive a medallion by mail. The purpose of this project is that we pray, and perhaps others will positively respond.
On this Pentecost Sunday, we remember that this is the Christian Church's birthday. On this day, let's remember that Jesus gives us a birthday present and project, for Jesus says: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” When you and I drive, let's be aware, let's take care, and let's say a prayer.
This is a verbatim transcription of the original sermon.