Because I have experienced what it's like to be running late, there certainly have been times in my life when I utter the words, "I hate it when people drive the speed limit!" I empathize with those who are in a hurry, when I'm not, because I've been there and done that. What I haven't done, however, is "gesture" people when I feel they're driving too slow.

           I was not paying much attention to the traffic behind me because I was singing to the song "Rescue" by the Newsboys and was somewhat in my own little world, albeit, still "concentrating" on driving. All of a sudden, I look in my rear view mirror and there is a woman "riding freely" on my back bumper. I looked at my speedometer. I was still traveling 55 mph. I looked in my rear view mirror again and I could literally see that she had flowers embroidered on the front of the floppy hat she was wearing. Now, some of us my have an initial reaction of slamming on the brakes to "teach her a lesson." But, not me. I would neither want to hurt my car nor my body! (Probably one of the only times that the words "it's all about me" don't seem so obnoxious).

           I knew I was only about ½ a mile from my turn and I was turning left, so I had to stay in the fast lane. I looked to my right and saw a car that was traveling slightly faster than I was, but both of us were blocking "floppy's" ability to pass. She quickly moved into the right lane and started "riding freely" on the other car's bumper. This driver, however, did not have the restraint I did and quickly accelerated to get the heck out of her way. As Floppy passed by me, she pulled into the fast lane ahead of me and gave me the usual gesture, but added a little twist to it. After the gesture, she "pointed" to the right lane. Hmmmm..what does that mean? First time I've ever seen something like that! Well, as always happens when you've just gestured someone and are trying to make a clean get a way, the traffic light at the next intersection turned red. It wouldn't have been so bad except that this was the intersection where I had to turn left, and you guessed it, there is a left turn only lane situated right next to Floppy's lane. As I moved into the left turn lane and stopped directly to Floppy's left, I rolled down the window on the passenger side of my car and looked over at her. She kept looking forward (you know that thought, "just keep looking forward, nobody will ever know I'm talking to you.") I kept staring at her. At that point, as far as she was concerned, it was probably the longest red light in history. She finally looked over at me and I motioned to her to roll down her window. As she rolled it down, she defiantly said, "Don't you know that the right lane is the 'slow' lane for slow traffic?" I said, "I was turning left, I had to stay in the left lane and besides what is the speed limit?!" Just at that moment the light turned green and she rolled up her window and went on her way.

           I was livid. How dare she call me "slow." I was speeding! (As if that is something to be proud of.) I contemplated following her to see where she was going in such a hurry, but didn't because suddenly I heard the Newsboys again singing "You rescued me, rescued me Lord with a love out of mind.." Yeah, out of mind were definitely the right words!

           Afterward, I felt stupid. What possessed me to confront Floppy? Did it really matter that she gestured at me? Did it really matter that she called me slow? Did it really matter that she was so defiant? In the bigger picture, no it doesn't matter, but the truth is, we typically don't live in the bigger picture. We typically live in a 4 X 6 frame and take everything so personally. I knew nothing about Floppy. She knew nothing of me. She may have had a family member in the hospital, an emergency! She may have run out of milk! Only God knows what her circumstance was just as only God knows our circumstances.

           Why do small things become such big things in our lives? Relationships have split up over toothpaste tubes squeezed in the middle. Churches have split over what someone brought for a potluck. Friendships have ended over what someone told someone else who told someone else who told someone else who told someone else!

           Isn't it time that we take inventory of our own "stuff" and realize that if our feelings are hurt, it's usually because of that stuff? I know this is a hard lesson to learn and I am still learning it myself...daily! Isn't it time we start realizing that the whole world is not out to get us, but our low self esteem will? Isn't it time we realize that there is enough of everything to go around and we need not fight over trivial things?

           It's been said, "Those who blow in the fire get sparks in their eyes." Is it worth it to get burned? Only you can decide.

           Job 5:6 (The Message) says, "Don't blame fate when things go wrong ... trouble doesn't come from nowhere." Could it be that trouble is coming from unresolved issues within us? Maybe it's time to stop gesturing at someone else and start looking in the mirror to see what is "freely riding" on your heart.