Rubbernecking

Driving down the road the other day I saw red and blue flashing lights. I thought to myself "wonder what happened here?" Trying to drive stick shift, talking to my wife on the cell phone I began to rubberneck only to see some poor schmoe pulled over getting a ticket.

As I drove away, quite craftily if I do say so myself, God spoke right to my heart. Accidents happen when we are gawking at the misfortune of others. You know, you have been on the highway when there is an accident and everyone is slowing down to see. If you are anything like me, you scream and yell (in your head of course) at all the idiots for slowing down and causing a traffic jam over getting a peek at the carnage. Well, that is until you get there and have to get your chance to peek! Has that ever backfired on you? Have you ever been rear ended, rear end someone or worse while rubbernecking?

I did a little research on rubbernecking. On just about every site I went to with a "Top 10 Reasons for Auto Accidents", rubbernecking was always number four. Click on the link, it is  Google search results and see for yourself. It is amazing that when doing something as serious and dangerous as driving a car, with the potential for harming ourselves and others, we risk for an eye full of someone else's wreckage! Imagine That!!!

So how about our lives? I know I am guilty of "spiritual rubbernecking". Oh... you don't know what that is? I will gladly explain. Spiritual Rubbernecking is when we are going on our marry little way in life and "pass-by" someone experiencing wreckage. Oh, we look, we gawk, we talk, we tisk, and we shake our heads... "That won't ever be me!" That is until we crash into what was right in front of us!

Luke 6:39-42

"39 And He also spoke a parable to them: "A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?40 A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.41 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?42 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye."

We get so caught up with all the wreckage in the lives of others (as observers non the less!) that we are not concerned with what is in front of us. As we gawk at those experiencing the carnage of live, we are setting ourselves up for a little carnage! Look, if you are interested in the wreckage of others.... "Stop, get out of the car, and see what you can do to help" (and that is help, not police). If we can't be committed to that, Keep your eyes on your own road and focus on what's in front of you! IJS