If you haven't read my last post, you'll wonder what 'margin' is. When typing, margin is that part of the page that is not written upon. The margins keep the paper neat and legible. They are defined boundaries. We all need margins in our lives. It keeps us in order, uncluttered and helps others 'read' us. Along with planning leftovers, another margin I have set in my life has to do with driving. I have purposed to drive the speed limit. Not 5 mph over, nor merely when their are state troopers around; but all of the time. Not long ago we had a tragic accident in our town. A woman was taking her children to school in their mini-van. Everyone was buckled up and she was travelling the speed limit. She hit some frost on a bridge and lost control. Her van slid sideways and was hit by an oncoming truck. Sadly, her little girl was killed in that accident. It was no one's fault. Just an awful, terrible event. But it started me thinking about my driving. What if I had been the one coming over the bridge that morning? What if my car had hit hers? How often have I sped over that very bridge, frantically rushing to some appointment or destination?
Then I started looking at how the Bible tells us to obey every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake. (I Peter 2:13) I had an AHA MOMENT. Even though the tragedy I described to you was not due to speeding; how many accidents are? What if 20%, 40, or 50% of the accidents on our roads occur because someone is speeding? And if the Bible tells us to obey the law, how can we Christians reasonably ask God for divine protection while breaking the law? Is there a possibility that we could avoid being in an accident, or prevent causing an accident if we are obedient to what the Word says? I don't know for sure, but I suspect so. In any case, I've discovered several instant benefits that come from my new more leisurely mode of travel...
No Tickets
No Looking Over Your Shoulder For Red Lights
No Being Ticked Off At The Guy Ahead Of You (You are that guy!)
The Ability To Enjoy Your Drive (The scenery isn't flying by)
It Forces You To Leave Earlier In Order To Arrive On Time
In short, most of the stress of driving melts away when you've determined not to speed! Who knew!!! So friends, if you get behind my little green Honda on the way to work, just wave as you pass me by...I'm not going any faster any more.
2 comments:
Hello! :)
Hi Deborah! One more point to add to the list of benefits of slowing down: it will save $$$! (I know so well -- as I'm a reformed speeder myself!)
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