Drive-time witnessing

Image credits: Google Images | Montage: UprightMedia

When I drive in Lagos, I am often tempted to react to the aggressiveness of the average driver by showing that I cannot be intimidated. Or to pay back in their own coin and at the next opportunity, drivers who use the road without consideration for others; or to put obnoxious pedestrians who insist on walking in the middle of the road, in their place.

On the other hand, I also appreciate and try to reciprocate the kind gestures of considerate road users. And I would consider giving way to a driver from an adjacent lane, if he had good naturedly indicated his intent in good time, with his trafficators.

But I realize that anyone can do that.

Very well did Jesus say that it is normal for Gentiles to love those who love them and to hate their enemies. He taxed us rather, to love our enemies and pray for those who despitefully use us.

I have decided to tax God's grace in me to do much more than the average 'good' driver, by refusing to get agitated when the danfo driver cuts me off in traffic especially having even forseen his intentions; or when the speeding driver carelessly swerves into my lane, forcing me to brake hard and/or swerve as well.

I realize that I will have to get used to the bewildered looks of pedestrians for whom I stop at the zebra crossing, and patiently accommodate their reluctance to trust my good intentions, while ignoring the impatient blaring of the drivers behind me who do not see any sense in why I have stopped, seeing as they cannot see the zebras for whom I did.

I realize that no one ever overcame evil with evil, but with good, and that that is God's instruction in the first place. I chose to use the road as Jesus would have - in humility and consideration for others, esteeming them before themselves, and only responding in love irrespective of their behaviour, that my light would shine to God's glory and perhaps I could win someone over to Jesus.

So, will you be a drive-time witness henceforth?