Hopped up on endorphins and sipping a protein shake, I was jolted from my happy Zumba mood when the Chevy in front of me lurched backwards towards my Mazda.
I bumped the horn to warn the driver, relieved when he braked. We were at a stop sign on an incline; he must not have detected my car.
Adrenaline kicked in when the Chevy came at me a second time, only this time with speed.
I hit the horn again, convinced my car was about to be smashed.
The truck, thankfully, braked before we collided, paused for a moment, and then slowly reversed around my car.
Certain the driver was about to apologize, I prepared to say, “No worries! We’ve all been there”.
Windows now side by side, I rolled mine down, unaware of the danger in the eyes that awaited me.
Scruffy beard, face of fury, he shouted, “YOU STUPID C—-!! YOU THINK I DIDN’T SEE YOU”?
Raised by a respectful father and cherished by my husband, I’d never been verbally assaulted by a man before.
I went numb as the assailant degraded me with anger and beat me with profanity.
Somewhere in the middle of the tirade, my eyes landed on a dark haired boy, eyes down, cheeks flushed, trapped in the truck beside the aggressor.
My mama’s heart turned from shock to OUTRAGE!
HOW DARE THIS MAN BELITTLE A WOMAN WHILE AN INNOCENT CHILD STOOD WITNESS!!
Before I could speak, the invader pealed toward the exit, leaving behind a cloud of exhaust.
I LAY ON MY HORN LOUD AND LOOOONG until his tailgate disappeared from view.
Physically shaking, I couldn’t even drive a block before my sensitive heart had me pulling to the side of the road.
More than any emotion, my heart hurt for the little boy who was confined with that livid man.
Deeply saddened I whispered, “God, please protect that child”!
Now that my anger had quieted, guilt started to creep in… Maybe I shouldn’t have honked my horn when the truck was rolling at me… Maybe I should have waited to see what the man was doing before I triggered him with my warning.
I scolded myself, “Joy, DON’T YOU DARE! You did NOTHING wrong by trying to prevent an accident. And NOTHING you could do would warrant the disrespect he showed you”.
Even so, being raised as a Pastor’s kid, a couple verses popped in my head.
“DO NOT PROVOKE A FOOL.”
TOO LATE! Me laying on my horn had been a bold middle finger to my opponent. I was now washed in conviction that that was where I had gone wrong. It was stupid to provoke a foolish man because he easily could have turned back around and come at me. What would I have done if he’d had a gun stashed in his glove box?
“DO NOT REPAY ANYONE EVIL FOR EVIL.”
Truly, what good had come from me returning the anger? All it had done is escalate the situation for that boy who’d have to pay for it during the drive home.
Jesus’ way of kindness and grace is so counter cultural to our “you-mess-with-me-and-I’ll-key-your-car” kind of world.
One thing I knew for sure as I drove home: a world without kindness is UGLY.
I couldn’t control broken people around me, but I could control me. I could wake up each day and do my best to be a healer… to show goodwill and grace EVEN when it is undeserved.
Pulling up to my apartment, I caught sight of a Sedan with its trunk popped open, grocery bags jutting out the back. I pulled over so I could load up with perishables and follow the resident up three flights of stairs.
A woman with salt and pepper hair flashed me a smile as we climbed.
“Awfully kind of you to stop and help a stranger.”
I matched her smile, “Happy to.”
“How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it.”
-George Elliston
