Driving the Second Mile

Originally by Bammel Youth Minister Eric Petty

So I just thought this was a nice thought. And I find him to be hilarious.

Recently I was driving, because that's what I do. You probably don't know this about me, but I pride myself on obeying many of the laws of automobile operation. For example, I think it's a good thing to NOT weave in and out of traffic in downtown Houston doing 70 miles per hour while texting a friend and eating a doughnut. But, apparently, that's just me. I have found since moving here that many people do not feel the same that I do about said weaving.

I also admire the "unwritten" rules of traffic. The other day, for example, I was on Kuykendahl coming to work, when I spied someone who needed to turn from a parking lot into the street. So I motioned for them to get in front of me. And they did. Yet, htey must not understand the "unwritten" laws because I sat their waiting for a friendly wave which never came. Everyone knows what I'm talking about. When someone lets you in front of them, you acknowledge their act of vehicular humanitarianism by simply looking into their eyes and giving a little wave. It doesn't even have to be a whole wave. Simply throwing your hand up in appreciation and mouthing "thanks" or "you're the man" or "I don't know where I'd be without you" will suffice. But this person...well, he did nothing. Not a wave, a head nod, a tip of the cap...nothing.

You can imagine how incensed I was. I mean, you can't ignore someone when they do something good for you. But then I asked myself why I let the guy in front of me in the first place. Was I doing a good deed just to bask in the delicious splendor of someone's praise for being such a good person, or was I genuinely trying to help someone? The fact is, sometimes we aren't going to be acknowledged for our good works, and that can be a bummer. But that doesn't mean we stop doing good just because people don't give us a key to the city. That's part of going the second milke. I know that when I get to the point that I do good just because it's what my Savior wants me to do, and I dont even notice when people aren't appreciative, I'll be closer to what HE wants me to be. I'll be closer to what He wants. That's what it means to be Christ for people. That's what it's like to be on the second mile.