On a recent Sunday journey to Montrose, at the Stonehaven peripheral junction and roundabout, the driver on the outside ignored lane discipline and changed lanes, forcing me off the designated lane for turning right. In a burst of self-righteousness I chose not to be angry, and moved back into position after the offending driver had passed. After all, I was heading to a church to preach about Jesus as the inspiration and model for our lives.
Going through Inverbervie a car was waiting to join the traffic at the junction near the Co-op, and he waited till I was much nearer then slowly pulled out in front of me forcing me to brake. Once again I tried, I really tried, not to be annoyed. At which point Classic FM started playing 'Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring.' Including the following words:
Jesu, joy of man's desiring,
Holy wisdom, love most bright;
Drawn by Thee, our souls aspiring
Soar to uncreated light.
I defy anyone to sustain annoyance and keep muttering angrily under their breath while listening to that piece of heaven anticipated. Like an all-knowing back seat driver, the Holy Spirit knows just how to tell us to slow down, and grow up! Over the years I've come to recognise that driving is one of those fast track training grounds for the fruit of the Spirit which Paul tells us is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
That morning I was having a road test of at least three areas with room for improvement: patience, goodness and self-control! Learn these and we grow in maturity, and the roads will be safer.
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