I was driving today and tried to merge over to the right.  The car behind me sped up and wouldn't let me over.  I was already in the process of merging, so I had to swing back into my lane.   No biggie.  I didn't honk.  I didn't flip out.  I didn't do anything.   

So, the car on the right passes me and I then do my merge right.  As soon as I get into the lane the girl in the car in front of me flips me off.   Come on!  Must we treat people this way?   Must we get so angry from such a simple thing and decide to give the finger? 

As the receipient of the finger, my blood immediately started to boil.   I wanted to honk!   I wanted to tailgait!   I wanted to flip her off.   But I didn't.   I just smiled.  

A small wooden cross hangs from the rear view mirror in my car.   It's a good reminder to love others.  It's a good reminder to not be so uptight.  It's a good reminder to calm down.

Thank you Jesus for the cross.

[image by jennerally]

This may sound judgmental, but I’d say most people pretty much only look out for themselves.  It’s rare to find a person that truly puts others above themselves.  If you’re a follower of Jesus, isn’t that what we’re called to do?  Isn’t that what Jesus did?  He gave himself as a ransom for many and humbled himself even to a death on a cross.

Wow.  I know I don’t live that way most of the time.  Sure, I’ll get a good one in every once in a while and then I’ll hold on to that one for too long.   “Hey, I did such and such for so and so 3 months ago!  Isn’t that good enough?”   Um, well, no.

I’ve been chewing on this verse for a while now:

Philippians 2:21  For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

Go and read Philippians 2, it’s so good in The Message.  Now that's what I call living an Intentional Life.

What do you think?

[image by Jeff Kubina]