Lucy is my cat. Or I guess it’s more fitting to say that I’m her person.
Either way, she will turn 13 next year, which makes her a teenager.
She’s already got that part down. She never listens to me when I talk to her and most of the time when I try to tell her anything, she just looks at me like, “Dude, whatever,” and walks off.
At least she’s not turning 16 yet. When that does happen, drivers of the world, beware.
First of all, I am not a perfect driver. I am what is known in the technical sense as direction-impaired. I have done my fair share of unintentional sight-seeing and taken a few unintended scenic routes because I turned the wrong way once (or five times).
But sometimes I’m driving and I see someone doing something that compels me to speak out loud to that driver. I’m aware that that person can’t hear me and I probably look foolish, but I say things like:
“You know, those yellow lines in the center of the road? Not just for decoration anymore.”
“The term ‘middle of the road’ is an expression not to be taken literally. Pick a side and drive on it.”
“You know that little stick thing coming out of your steering wheel? That’s called a turn signal. Learn how to use one.”
“That red light still means stop. And I’m pretty sure it hasn’t become optional.”
There are some cases when I have no words, like when someone swerves over three lanes to make a last-minute right hand turn. Or when someone takes an hour to turn into a parking lot.
The funny thing is that I do some mindbogglingly stupid stuff when I’m driving. But I can justify my own driving because I was in a hurry or stressed or preoccupied. Sometimes, I just have to look at the other driver and mouth the words, “I’m sorry.” Usually spoken to the rear-view mirror.
I should probably give more grace to other drivers. If I weren’t so preoccupied with judging other people’s driving skills, I might just be a better driver myself. I’d hate to think that someone else used my standards when judging me as a driver.
It’s easier to make it black and white and point the finger in any area of life, but much harder to extend grace. I’m really good at receiving it, but not nearly so good at giving it out.
Just another reason why I’m so glad that grace isn’t about what you or I deserve, but about the mercy of God.
Today was one of those days that contained elements of the good, the bad, and the ugly. To be sure, there was about 75% good, 20% bad, and only 5% ugly, give or take 5%.
The good: I finally found the laptop of my dreams. I think this will work and this time it will really last. Desktop, you were fun, but I think we both know it’s over and it’s time to move on.
The bad: For some reason, the drive to Chuy’s became much more of an adventure than it should have been. I’ve been there many times before, but for some reason today, I was compelled to turn the wrong way off I-65 and to have to perform a semi-U turn to get back on the right track. It was a lovely and awkward driving moment that I will be doing my best to repress in the days to come.
The ugly: I seem to have screwed up a friendship before it really even got going. My social skills were AWOL for part of the night, and that was the part that I chose ever-so-wisely to have a conversation with the friend in question. Needless to say, I stuck my foot in my mouth up to my kneecap. It was awkward.
It’s okay that I’m not there yet. It’s okay that I don’t have it all together and have it all figured out yet. God does.
I can’t mess up so badly that He can’t turn my mistake into something beautiful and good. I can’t screw up something beyond God’s ability to fix it and make it right again.
God, I’m leaning on your promises tonight. I’m counting on You to work your purposes in my mistakes and take even the bad and the ugly of my day and work it for Your good.
Amen and amen. Pass the tylenol.
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