The Time Out

I was driving down US 59 North in the city when some guy in a minivan got in my way so I cussed him out; “what the helping are you doing you blank of a blank!!??” Instantly, I felt ashamed because that’s not the way a Christian should act let alone talk. I try to control my tongue, my thoughts too, but while driving I don’t do very well with that. Usually it’s because I'm impatient with other drivers.  Although I felt bad, I knew that just feeling bad wasn’t enough. I had to kill this thing (my foul mouth) or at least teach it to respect authority -God’s.  I knew what to do, it’s something I used to do before when I was more, radical? I call it the 'Road Rage Time Out' (RRTO) it works like this. I must make a mandatory exit from the freeway as soon as it is safely possible. Then I have to park my car for a full five minutes to Eat, Pray, Love. No not the movie by that name, I’m talking about communing with God by reading scriptures eat. Then I'll pray for the person I just blessed out and in so doing put some love back into my heart.  Making a five minute stop is difficult because it could make me late for something or at least inconvenience me. But that's the whole point of an RRTO. After I finish making my amends, I'll continue on my way -but as a changed man. No longer feeling angry or impatient but instead calm, serene, forgiving and right with God. If you do this every time you get road rage you might find that you'll soon change your behavior for the better. It's worked for me, it had to. Otherwise driving even a short distance would take me a very long time.