We can all acknowledge that our world has gone off the skids in many ways concerning morality, crime, selfishness, etc. It doesn't start off in a huge way but in many small infractions that gradually turn into the norm. In sunny California, I'm beginning to agree that our drivers are getting to be among the worst. These days, when the light turns green for me, I subconsciously and automatically wait about 30 seconds because I know that the cars that have since gone from the yellow warning light to the red stop light will still be coming through. And they do so without a second thought. Defensive driving has taken on a whole, new meaning. The rules of the road are viewed according to each and every egotistical, personal view and if you are in someone's way because they are amiss in their knowledge of good driving, it is you that had better watch out.
One time, I was in the left-hand turning lane waiting for the light. There were three lanes for going straight ahead to my right. The light turns green and before any of us can move, a car in the far right lane decided to make a left turn past the three lanes and my left-hand turning lane!
This morning, the infamous crossing in our town was at it's usual law-breaking best. The light went green for my left-hand turn but so many cars from the previous green light (not red!) kept going that by the time I could make my legal left-hand turn with the green light, it turned yellow when I was only halfway through.
Cell phones! The law says so hand-held cell phones while driving in California. A good law but seemingly, it doesn't seem to apply to the majority of drivers. A light had turned green as I was approaching the intersection. Several cars had already crossed. As I prepared to follow through, a car on the right of the intersection decided to make a left-hand turn on the red in front of me. She didn't even notice as they was gabbing and laughing on her cell phone.
One of the left-hand turns I take almost on a daily basis is into the street leading to our church. A good many of the people making the same turn are also heading to Mass. A good many of them run through the stop sign. A good many of them are on their cell phones. A good many of them have no problem cutting you off from your legal turn in order to get there three seconds faster.
There is a commandment among the ten that says we should honor our father and mother. I don't think it stops at that. I think it applies to respecting and honoring authority. Seems to me that many of these 'good' people might be surprised to know they are not being obedient to God's commandment even as they break traffic laws on their way to church. At another point in time, when tested, Jesus did say we should honor the things that are Caesar's and honor the things that are God. Doesn't that apply to laws that are for the good of everyone?
