Passing Judgment

While driving in the city we pass other cars on the highway all the time, but tonight after a drive on more rural roads I was reminded of the delicate art of passing on two-lane roads. It’s one thing to pass another car when all the lanes are moving in the same direction, true it can be tricky, but not as conflicting as moving into the next lane for oncoming traffic! There are a lot of decisions to be made: How badly do I need to pass? Has the solid yellow line prohibiting passing changed to dashed? How much room before it returns to solid? Can I accelerate that quickly? Can I see oncoming traffic??? I still feel vulnerable even though I’ve gone through the check list and decided it’s safe to pass. To knowingly drive on the wrong side of the road, even for a short amount of time, with headlights directly aimed at your windshield, takes strong nerves and a growing confidence in judgment. Sometimes it begins by frustration of following a car driving well below the speed limit, or the physical limitations of a big tractor trailer on hilly terrain, but eventually you reach the point where dissatisfaction and the impediment is more powerful than the challenge of moving ahead, even if that means looking straight at a distant projectile headed towards you. Eventually you learn which conditions are advantageous to passing, and when it’s more valuable to sit back, relax and wait to fight/pass another time.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You send out your disciples into the world, providing their needs and supervising their movements. As a congregation, give us courage and wisdom to know when to progress. Weigh in on our judgment so that with improvement and ease over time we may gain confidence and can increase our willingness to serve and decrease our hesitation to follow. Lord, you faced a point where you stayed and endured suffering instead of seeking relief and freedom. Teach us when we need to stay in place. Teach us how to add value to this world. Amen.