GO! Smell The Traffic Jam!

When I was working as a social worker, living in the Los Angeles area you have to deal with traffic. Sometimes it took me 1 1/2 hours to go 20 miles on the freeway. (Please, no one do the math…I never want to know!!) Yes, that is a typical picture of “rush” hour, when everyone is trying to get to work or home!! Makes you need to smell lots of flowers and not exhaust fumes. (cough, cough)

In California around the Los Angeles and Orange Counties and many other places in the country, when you are asked, “How far do you live from work?,” well, the answer is usually in terms of how long and not in miles or kilometers…don’t ask me to do the conversions.  Americans are not taught metrics, so we can’t communicate with the rest of the world.

I am really not sure how prevalent talking about “how long”  has become around the country or even the world. It would be an interesting experiment for sure.

It has become a frustrating part of living out here. Normally, that commute with light/holiday traffic it is 30 minutes; with normal everyday traffic 45 to 60 minutes and getaway days 1 to 1 1/2 hours or more.

For the last 10 years with varying amounts of success, I’ve been trying to work on developing a new attitude. I am thankful that I have a comfortable, reliable car with air conditioning/heating, radio, CD player, and a good sound system. I know that certain days or time of day that it is going to be a long drive, so I just relax and go with it. Also, I try to leave myself enough time to accommodate an accident or some type of delay.

However, when there are unexpected delays, it is difficult for me not to become anxious, frustrated or even angry. One day, I thought to myself/prayed (sometimes they are the same), “What would Jesus do?” I know that saying is everywhere and I’m not too fond of it. However, it became a good question for me to ask myself. Then, I thought, “Well, He would know what was going on and could perform a miracle and get out of the situation after all He was human and He was also God. (I’m not getting into theology with you…just sharing my thought process…aren’t you lucky…just kidding.) I realize that some are not Christians, but you can replace it with what is the best way to handle this or whatever you want to insert.

Okay, but I am only human and not God or whatever your belief is. So, I try to be patient. I am very careful in what I pray for because most times it isn’t what most people would expect. For instance, most people I know that have prayed to learn more patience are given circumstances that require them to exercise their patience muscle…yes, more frustrating things occur…I’m smart. I never prayed for that. Anyway, I thought of the verse in I Thessalonians 5:17 which says, “pray without ceasing.” Well, okay I try to practice that. It is a lot about being mindful of God’s existence in your life, but that is a whole other post or book. It is about mindfulness or an awareness of something greater than yourself which can fit most other beliefs and religions. Remember this is my experience.

“What do you mean, pray without ceasing!!!,” I quietly and calmly asked Him…NOT so quietly and calmly! Well, He brought to mind that if there is a longer delay than usual then there is probably some type of accident. Okay, I can pray for the rescue workers, law enforcement, the people involved and their family and friends even if I never see the accident. And when, if I do I lift them up in prayer again and also have a prayer of blessing. If you are not a Christian, you can think good thoughts and well wishes instead. Sometimes, my prayer is just complaining. God wants to hear that from me even when I am frustrated and “I just want to take my foot off the brake for more than a few seconds! When am I going to be able to use the gas pedal?” (or would that be petrol pedal?)

In case you were wondering (and even if you weren’t), when I pray while driving, I do not close my eyes, I do not look up or down, I continue to look at traffic, both hands remain on the steering wheel and sometimes it is silent and sometimes it is outloud…yes, that means I’m the crazy driver next to you looking like I’m talking to myself. Now, you don’t have to worry about driving near me…or do you!

Okay, I say this, but mind you I am not that wonderful of a person and this will be a life long process. I still get angry and sometimes do unwise things while driving. Or, in my head, I cuss at the drivers who slow down just to basically see NOTHING!!! Why do they do that!!! (rhetorical question). But, I do try to remember, even if it is a minor accident, that I am being inconvenienced and delayed, but they are having a worse day and sometimes a life changing day even if I don’t see the problem. It has helped me to become more patient, but I have not and will not pray to learn patience, but I will pray to have patience in a specific situation…I know better!!

You can also make friendly connections with people when driving.  For instance, allowing someone in instead of speeding up (now, don’t lie…everyone does it sometime).  Mouthing, “I’m sorry” or looking remorseful or waving your hand.  Sometimes, those little gestures make my morning and gives me hope that there are nice people out there.  Which one are you?

How do you deal with delays in your schedule or traffic congestion? 

In what ways can you make it an opportunity to GO! smell the flowers?