Whoa is me....

I am supposed to be writing something profound and inspirational for the blog, but I am feeling snarky and uninspired, and this is all I have for this Thursday morning.

I dropped my husband off at school this morning. I don’t do that every day, our lives are busy and those few extra minutes together in the car are sometimes the only ones we get.

It is the first week on classes and today is apparently the first day that they will be towing cars for being parked/ permitted incorrectly. There was also a great deal of parking on campus that was restructured over the summer. You can’t get to all the same places the same ways, and there are still a few temporary pass-throughs, as well as blockages present.  All in all, though I have found it much easier to get to where I need to be.

Apparently, I am the only one!

I was “greeted” by numerous folks having trouble navigating the parking lots and understanding right away. One young man (and I use that term loosely…I am trying to be generous!) in particular, came barreling through one of  the temporary pass-throughs that is a dirt path through what use to be a parking space. I had to slam on brakes to avoid hitting him, for which I received a scowl and up turned nose.

The first thoughts that filled my mind were:

Really dude!

You are in a parking lot!

You go to Liberty!

You are supposed to be Christian!

On the way home I was consumed, not with anger, but discontent. I kept recalling what had happened and wondering just who that kid thought he was. I was in the lot that is for campus police, law students and the medical facility on campus, but surely this kid didn’t think any of those things made him better than every other driver in the lot or should garner him any special privileges – including the privilege of nearly running me over and being a stink about it!

Then I started to think about how the priest who married Terry and I always says that sometimes we run into bad drivers because they need us to pray for them. Maybe that kid needs me to pray for him. Maybe this first week of school has been hard. Maybe he is having a hard time being away from home- he had Arkansan plates. Maybe he is sick…maybe he just needs a few extra prayers and a little grace in his day.

Or maybe…maybe I need him to prayer for me…

Bumper to Bumper

So it is Wednesday….

I was going to write about songs that make me think of God…like songs that aren’t about God but should be, but then I took my little girl to her fun Wednesday adventure and on the way I had two experiences with other drivers that I have to share …

First, I followed this orange X Terra with a dozen stickers on the backend. I am sure they all said insightful, poignant things – BUT – I could not read a single one of them. NOT ONE!  So let me offer a little advice: before you put a sticker on your car stick it on the fridge or the wall and then back up at least as far as you hope other drivers will be from the rear end of your car and see if you can read it! If you can’t don’t put it on your car, you will only aggravate other drivers on the interstate!!!

Secondly, I followed a Hyundai Santa Fe with a political campaign sticker, well I followed her until I could get around her – because she was driving s   l    o   w    l   y on the interstate – and not just only the speed limit slow. Try 5 under!  Talking on her cell…My advice on this one is twofold. First, if you want to continue to talk on your phone while you drive don’t drive stupid. It only gives groups against distracted driving fodder. Granted, maybe you were a bad driver before you picked up the phone, but a little effort goes a long way…and the Second piece of advice is this…Once you put that sticker for that candidate on your car you are representing that candidate so drive to make them proud, be polite to other drivers, follow the rules of the road, keep your car clean and in good repair. Think about how your represent them, think about what others will think of you and in turn them based on your driving and conduct on the roadways. Maybe this the marketer in me over reacting, but I know if I ever run for office bumper stickers will not be on my campaign trail!

So now share this with all your friends and the roads might be a little safer and more enjoyable to travel. Oh, and check back next week to see what Wednesdays are really all about here at The Things I am Made of.

DKJ