Traffic congestion in Kyiv. Interestingly, its not that there is so much traffic that people can’t get anywhere, as you can see at the top of the photo. When the light turns yellow as many people as possible drive into the intersection. The thinking is sound, if I get in there, then I will be ahead of the next group. Naturally, when you see it in action the problem quickly becomes apparent. If there are cars in the intersection, then traffic can’t flow, so by the time it clears, the next group of people crowd in on the yellow. Eventually, it becomes go on yellow and red and stop on green. The problem is that we can’t wait our turn. The way to get somewhere is to take it. In Canada it might be the corporate ladder but here it is the traffic ladder. Use your tricks and your muscle to get ahead of everyone else, ignoring the people you trample to get there.
It’s often said that people are generally good. But really? I see a lot of good things that people do … but everyone has bad within them too. I do. Most of us get the worst of it trained out while we are young and impressionable (though it sometimes becomes repressed attitudes which create there own problems). But as adults? Who trains us?
Many people like to talk about God’s love. That’s great! It’s because of his love for us that he sent Jesus to us, to take the consequences for our selfishness. And if we choose to follow Jesus, he promises to train us even as adults. So even though we want to drive right into the intersection to get ahead, we can overcome our selfishness and love others.
Teaching Adventures 