Downhill Uphill

 

In our neighborhood, we have a small street (with no painted centerlines) that makes a sharp, 90° turn … while going downhill.  When drivers are on the inside of the curve downhill, it’s easy (or relatively easy) for them to stay on their side of the road.  But when drivers are on the outside of the curve going up, they tend to “straighten out the curve” driving in the middle of the road to get up the speed to climb the hill.  Usually, no one is coming, but sometimes … well, it can get a little dangerous.  A week ago Wednesday, my right shoulder was hurting, and I was driving with only my left arm when I came around the outside of that curve going up the hill (refer to the sentence above).  I couldn’t negotiate the road as well as I usually do, so I “cut the corner” just a little bit.  But an oncoming driver didn’t show any mercy, honking his horn long and loud.  What a rude dude!  No understanding at all!  I was doing the best that I could while he showed no compassion at all!  But then I realized how often I was unkind, like that other driver.  Often, when another driver drifts onto my side of the road, I crowd the middle of the road to “teach the other driver a lesson”.  Jesus said in Luke 6:31, “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”  This is called The Golden Rule.  Hey, If I think that the other driver should be understanding of me, I should be understanding of other drivers too.  And when an uphill driver comes over onto my side of the road, I need to remind myself that he may have shoulder problems just like me too.  Well, he could.  Hey, you have a choice today: kindness or honking; understanding or crowding.  The choice is up to you.