Shade Tree Wisdom 9/17/07

After Church yesterday we wended our way down to Houston to visit and have brunch with our daughter and son-in-law. It was fine, the visit and the meal together. We do this now and then for a change of pace.

On the way home, nearing The Woodlands flyover that allows us to leave the turnpike at speed and get the speed well under control before entering the Parkway, I see a sign that warns us to be aware since 26 people had been injured or killed in the next 15 mile section of I-45, the miles between The Woodlands and the County Seat which is Conroe, to drive ‘with extreme caution’.

This part of the pike is always nearly bumper-to-bumper traffic.

But why this warning here? After all, we had just driven nearly through the city of Houston at 60 miles per hour with no problem. Well, not through so much as over, because the highway is elevated for long stretches. And there was plenty of traffic. So why now?

Or does the State of Texas erect such signs here and there as a sort of hint to take care? I don’t know, because I don’t drive I-45 or any other freeway enough these days to know.

It does seem to me, as drivers, we are getting more and more indifferent to the rights of others and more and more careless and lax with our own driving habits. Is this all part of the general breakdown of morality and goodness among us, or is there an increase in such behavior, or am I reading into this something that isn’t there at all. I do know there seems to be an effort here and there to offer classes in ‘manners’, and social behavior, of all things. And motivation speakers are hired to make people more aware of the needs and concerns of others as well as their own.
Jesus once said it, “Do unto others as ye would have them do unto you, for this is the law and the prophets”. Matthew 7,12. The Message puts this like so: “Here is a simple rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s law and Prophets and this is what you get.” One suggestion might be to start with our driving.