Road Rage Week 2

After having such an amazing first week of Lent, you would think that a repeat performance was in the bag. Nope. I backslid so well you would think I was moon walking. Sunday and Monday were fine. Temptation was there: no traffic – speeding, or heavy traffic – tailgating, but I was strong and took each opportunity to show the devil who was boss. Then Tuesday arrived. Now before I go any further in my tale I need to clarify one thing. Although it may sound like I am blaming others for my failure, I am not. I chose to break my promise, I chose to sin. Ok, enough. So Tuesday came and my daughter was returning from a long weekend at her mothers. My wife was supposed to go get her but my son's doctor's appointment ran long. So picture this: I am in Seattle, it is 1:15pm, my daughter is being dropped at South Center Mall at 2, my wife and son are at the doctor's office in Lynnwood, and I have a meeting I can't miss at 2. So I tell my boss that I may be late to the meeting and I bail. The ride is 20 minutes each way giving me 5 minutes to pick her up. I can do this. Oops, I park 5 minutes from work, now I am behind by 5 minutes. No traffic on I-5. So I let the odometer peek above 60. At first it wasn't intentional but it wasn't long before that 61 became 62. (the speed values have been changed to protect the not innocent). I picked her up and looked at the clock as we pull out of the mall…..1:50. Poop. So back on I-5 and a little more driving at 62mph. Needless to say I was still late to my meeting, and nothing but frustration was gained by my disobedience. Here is the real problem. Inertia. Once you fall, it makes it so easy to continue. I got a new car that day, by God's grace and nothing I did (different story), and how do you drive a new car and not see what it can do? I mean I need to know the envelope, right? I kept hearing my own voice saying: "You already broke Lent, you can start over on Sunday". I believed it and as I was cruzing in to work on Thursday it hit me like a ton of bricks. A truth 2x4 upside the head. Here is a peek inside my head: "Who knows you almost as good as Jesus?" I asked my reflection. "You do" I told myself. "And you know what a filthy sinner and liar you are, right?" I asked again. "Yes" was the shamed reply. "Then why on God's green earth would you trust yourself? You idiot!" Ok. So it is true that speeding is only a small problem compared to my fast collection of issues. But the truth of my experience is still there: God wants to give me abundant joy, and His gift of joy is always given through obedience. Finding a thrill outside of His will is futile.