Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him. Psalm 34:8 MSG

What’s with all the stress? I know if I feel it, you must feel it too. It seems to be in everything now days. Everything’s a drama event waiting to pull us into its abyss.

“It must be completed NOW!” and the stress they feel is transmitted to you because they waited too long. Drivers sliding from lane to lane, in a hurry to get to somewhere fast. Why didn’t they just leave sooner instead of their actions causing accidents? Horns honking when someone at the light hesitates a second longer than seems appropriate, as you yell to your windshield, “Pay attention!” Someone in the ‘fast food’ lane taking too much time with their order. Why didn’t they just go inside rather than hold everyone else up?

Ever feel like that, or am I totally alone in this? I must admit I’ve been that person at times in my life. Now I find that when anxiety makes my heart beat fast and my blood pressure rise, I try to take a minute and check my attitude now. Why am I in such a hurry? Is this internal or external pressure? Hey, it doesn’t happen often, but it’s a start!

So I guess I’m asking what you do when stress and drama is played out before your ears and eyes? Do you react with anger and impatience, or do you internalize it and explode in other ways? Take a few days and listen to yourself when you’re driving. I’m wondering if it’s become a normal thing, or simply something we’ve accustomed ourselves to? If so, how can we change our behavior to be the exception to the rule?

I don’t want to be influenced by others behavior anymore, unless it’s to the good. I want my life to be a reflection of the peace of God that is always accessible to me. Perhaps it’s time to change. I know some of us hate that word, but change is a good thing if it brings peace.

Perhaps it’s time to place Jesus in the passenger seat when we enter our cars (oof, that’s gonna take some getting used to). To pull up a chair by our desk at work for Him to sit in. To be aware of Him as we wait in line at the store or the drive-through. Because although that seems silly (because who does that?), He is always with us, whether we’re aware of it or not. He never leaves us, at our worst moments.

My prayer today: Father, sorry about my behavior of late. No excuses! I can’t control what others do, but I can surely control my response to it. I really need your help with this. I’d say, ‘Hey, I’m only human!” but you already know that since you made me. Help me to choose better when I get behind the wheel. To take a moment at work to gain control of my emotional response before I make one. Thanks for never leaving me or getting put off by my human nature. To stick with me so closely and still love me, that’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever known. I really want to be more like you!

And all Gods people said, AMEN.

Sandy G