Road Rage… Again

Road rage is something most of us have encountered, whether we are the angry ones or someone else. It’s something I’ve thought a lot about since I had a gun pulled on me just about a mile from my house. That was a frightening moment that could’ve changed my life forever, or even ended my life. I say “could’ve changed my life,” as if it hasn’t but the truth is, my life HAS been changed from that encounter. The driver pointing the gun at me didn’t shoot. I’m so grateful for that. Sometimes I wonder if he actually did pull the trigger but the gun malfunctioned. Wouldn’t that be crazy?

Since then I’ve vowed to ratchet down how confrontational I am on the road. Don’t get me wrong, I still have my moments but each time I’m able to act with a level head, I am relieved because it’s impossible to know if the next person I rub the wrong way might act on their own rage. Here in Nashville there’s an ongoing case of a nurse who was killed on her way to work. Allegedly she cut off another driver and that driver shot her. Game over. Just like that her future is gone. No more nurse. No more daughter and sister and friend.

The funny, and alarming, thing is that even though I’ve changed and I’m telling you about it today, just this morning not more than 10 minutes after I mentally recommitted to my best road behavior, the car in front of me didn’t go when the light was green. I politely tapped the horn. Still no movement so I laid on the horn. It was as if the rooster had crowed 3 times because I immediately remembered how I had just decided my road rage days were behind me.

That’s how easy it can bubble back up.

So in your own story, give yourself some grace. I surely have to do the same. But the main point is to let things go. There is nothing happening on the road worth losing a life over. Be safe out there, folks!

-Out of the Wilderness