by Jolene
January in Western New York is, by its nature, SNOWY. I know this. I have lived here all my 27.8 years. I know what the roads are like. I know to give myself extra time on my daily commute. It usually results in long, tiring days, but I manage.
There are some people, who are unfamiliar with lake snows because they are from out of town. And then there are those who, though they have lived here all their lives, refuse to accept that it is winter.
Do you mind listening to my story?
This morning was snowy, as is obvious by my title. I was on my way to work, and stuck three cars behind a large, slow-moving, salt truck/snow plow. I was on a single-lane-each-direction road and following me was the most impatient person I have yet to encounter this season. He or she would not leave the two-car lengths distance my dad taught me about. I couldn’t go any faster, and yet this individual insisted on sitting in my back seat. I focused my attention on the Bible teaching on the radio and prayed for safety. It seemed the logical thing to do, because I wasn’t going to go any faster.
I made my customary turn south, much to the chagrin of my follower. He/she was turning the same way. I was promptly passed on this unplowed portion of road. Wouldn’t you know it, but a few miles down the road, I caught up with this individual tailing another snow plow – this one only going 20mph. I watched as they attempted to pass – no luck – a car was coming. I prayed again. This one more of a demand of God to make that person stop…
He attempted again to pass the plow. On a blind curve. BRILLIANT! What a wonderful idea!
Alright, I’ll cut my sarcasm, because here was the scary part.
Another car was coming in the opposite direction – she was in her lane going slow enough for the road conditions. I watched it all happen as Mr. Speedy swerved back behind the plow and the other car swerved out of the way and promptly into a ditch. The other car, and the car behind him did not stop. All I could hear myself say was “OH LORD!”
I made a split decision. I am not usually one to stop in these instances, but this car was off to the side of the road, and everyone else had gone by. I couldn’t in good conscience just drive off, leaving the woman there in the middle of nowhere, without having checked.
Since I had already slowed down, I parked in the road (brilliant on my part as well), and ran over to make sure the person was ok. She was. I mean, she was shaken up. I told her I understood – I watched it all happen. She had a cell phone, and I stood there with her for a bit as she made a call. I had to get to work, and so I eventually left. But at least I stopped and made sure she wasn’t injured.
My point in sharing this on the GodlyGals blog?
Well, I think there are some lessons to be learned.
1. Please don’t rush. Being so hurried by things today – we sometimes forget to take our time, be careful, and consider how our actions may hurt others.
2. Follow the rules of the road and don’t try to pass a plow on a blind curve. There are rules for a reason – it’s just stupid to take a risk like that.
3. If someone may be injured, being late to work is not important in comparison to the lives of others. Stop and help.
It all comes down to THINKING - about others, and yourself; about VALUING LIFE, and acting with precaution when the situation warrants it. God created each of us, and we should not be so reckless with His creation.
