I have about 10 minutes left at lunch so I wanted to throw down this little story. In my last post I was teaching about how to interact with your neighbors and bragging about some of my recent success. Well let’s just say that I didn’t heed my own teaching.

Miami is one of the highest rated road rage cities in the country so I was just trying to be relevant to my environment. Anyway…so I am coming home from work last night on my motorcycle. In my neighborhood all of the streets have a posted speed limit of 20 mph. Since there are few that follow that, us along with some of our neighbors have purchased children at play signs that we put out when our kids are on their bikes, scooters, power wheels, pogo balls, etc. to make people aware of the kids.

So as I am going down my street at 23 mph I see this SUV gaining on me and then proceeds to pass me. I verified my speed and confirmed that I had not left any blinkers on. Also note that this is an unstriped two way street with cars parked on it.

I am now aware that the stress of my life has taken me a lot closer to edge of losing it because my blood pressure immediately went through the roof. I immediately thought about following the individual home to have a conversation with them but quickly thought better of it given my recent string of success in winning over my neighborhood.

So I pulled into my driveway and watched the vehicle pull into a driveway about 4 houses down. I hopped off my bike and began to walk down there. Not sure if I would make it in time and trying to figure out what I would say if I did. All the while I am trying to avoid an Incredible Hulk type rage. So as the lady went to her mailbox I said “excuse me” once to no avail so I repeated myself. Now keeping enough room as to not invade personal space I asked her if I was not going fast enough? With a complete look of “What are you talking about” I proceeded to explain to her that while I was doing 23 mph in a 20 mph zone she felt the need to pass me. This explanation was responded to with a “So”. Now I am doing everything to not turn green and not think about what a great weapon the helmet I am holding in my hand would be. Keeping myself under control I told her that many of us have children that play on this street and that we would appreciate it if she would slow down.

I know that she probably thought no more about it but I am still lingering on this thought… I realized just how easily I was taken to the edge and it is important for me to be aware of that because it only takes one incident for me to throw away every bit of effort toward the success of our church plant.

Needless to say that she will probably never come to our church no matter how much stuff I try to borrow. So I am not surewhat the moral to the story is but I felt better after toilet papering her house. Just kidding…