Traffic, Arghh!

It was a hilarious comment. One that just begged to be made fun of. And though I rarely laugh at people (I try to stay on the level of laughing with people), this statement got me chuckling right before their very eyes.

They stated they hated to go into Lynchburg, because the traffic was like driving in New York City.

If I had been drinking milk, it would have spewed through my nose. Now it Is true that traffic in my little town of Appomattox is basically nil. The only time I’ve had traffic issues is when the Amish buggy was in front of me and I had to wait for a good time to pass. And it is also true to go to Lynchburg (the closest mid-sized town) means more traffic.

And it is also true there are spots of traffic jams with consistent backups … but we can talk about the Chick-fil-A drive through another day. Ward Avenue is a moderately trafficked road. But New York City?

I’ve driven through NY a few time, but I’ve lived in Dallas many years, as well as NoVa (northern Virginia) outside of Washington DC – all three known for traffic, constant construction, and money hungry toll roads. Lynchburg is not NYC.

So I love my traffic around here. People driving courteously. Giving, not taking, right of way. Waving at fellow drivers – with all five fingers.

But I read a quote this week that got me thinking of even a better stretch of road to be seen on, a road our GPS may not suggest, but one we should be taking regularly. And a road too many people avoid.

There’s always less traffic on the extra mile

John C Maxwell

Wow. Ka-Boom. Mind blown.

Jesus talked about the way we are to be treating people. Turning the other cheek, giving your coat when they demand your shirt, and going the second mile. What was Jesus talking about …

In his earthly days, the Romans could subjugate and humiliate citizens of captured lands by demanding anyone could be made to carry the Romans’ luggage for one mile beyond the city. Jesus said to carry it a second mile.

Again … Wow. Ka-Boom. Mind blown.

And in that second mile comes opportunity. Opportunity to share you care, to talk about the good news of the Gospel, to explain how Jesus went the second mile to save all who would believe.

We are to be looking for these opportunities to serve and to share. In a world of people looking out for themselves, we are to be different. Believers are to be living on the second mile – looking out for others more than ourselves.

Where does your GPS say you are? Is it on the extra mile? If not, then maybe you need to redirect.