Road Rage

One Saturday afternoon I sat in the Sergeant’s office of the Santa Barbara Police Department reading crime reports when I heard the faint sound of a car horn. I didn’t think much of it until thirty seconds passed, the horn continued and the sound got louder. I figured that someone just got married. A few more seconds ticked by, the honking continued and the sound of screeching tires added to the din. This was strange. Some married couple was really excited AND in a big hurry to get to the hotel.  This was far from the case and there was not one car but two.

Another fifteen seconds passed, the sound of the horn with the screeching tires was punctuated by noise I associated with a car crash. What the heck was going on? The three noises reoccurred at least four more times over the next twenty seconds. My office was in the middle of the building and I listened as the sounds went from my right to left. The cars passed in front of the police department and turned the wrong way down the east side of the building where we parked police cars.

I was standing now listening to the sounds of horns, the squealing tires and the crashing of cars. A moment later, there was one final, very loud crash. I ran down a hallway and out the side door. There I saw two cars piled into a retaining wall, one behind the other. Miraculously, both cars missed eight police vehicles and a gas pump. The driver of the second car ran up to me and demanded that I arrest the first driver for cutting him off on the freeway a mile away! As crazy as this sounds, this “bad” guy was intentionally crashing into the back of the first car to “force” the driver to the police department. He made sure to slam car number one into the retaining wall to make sure the guy that cut him off did not get away. He got arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and went to jail. Road rage is actually classified as a mental condition: Intermittent Explosive Disorder. I guess this guy had a defense! 

We all get cut off on the road. Most of the time, there is only the exchange of a gesture that is similar to saying, "You're number one!" 

Now WHAT IF… we celebrated with people who cut us off or passed us on the road? What if we prayed for people who drive badly?

Now before you stop reading, consider my scriptural basis for such a suggestion:

In Matthew 5:38-44, Jesus preached, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone cuts you off on the freeway, let them go right ahead.” Ok, Jesus did not say the last line, but he did say, “If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.” I think he said that with driving in mind!

Jesus continues, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” 

Now add in James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

It turns out that driving is an activity that calls us to pray for our enemies, to be joyful in the trials and to grow in our faith. There may never be a cop around when you need one, but there is always the power of prayer. Even bad drivers cannot out run the Spirit of God!