Variations on actions in response.
As a driven turned left in an SUV and onto the street in front of me, I initially felt safe. After all, I had the right of way, we were the only two on the road, and there was plenty of room before any turns could be made. I was wrong! The driver just kept coming. I flashed my lights, thinking this would make a difference. It did not. I then took evasive maneuvers, diving into the other lane just behind the SUV as the vehicle crossed just in front of me.
While it was close, there were options to stay safe. Without thinking, my thoughts were blunt and pointed; “Turn his children into begging street urchins, evicted from their homes – homeless.” (Psalm 109.10)
I had two peppers in my bag I need to weigh and price. The store was not very crowded, so courtesies were being shared by everyone present. As I took the three steps to the pricing machine, a young man dashed by me, cutting me off, and standing in front of the machine with a single item to weigh. My instant emotions reached the tip of my tongue, and then my mind reconnected with the current story.
It was obvious he was trying to impress the young woman he was with. While she followed him with a bemused smile, it was clear that he was in hyper-drive, doing everything he could to let her know he was smart, bright, and witty. I do not know how it was working overall, but in this case, he had no idea what to do!
His look of desperation washed my thoughts out of my mind. I looked at him, thinking of how my bravado on many occasions.
“All you need to do is follow the pictures. Once you find your item, press print. Use the label to tag your bag and run it through this second machine to tie the top. You try it.”
His smile of thanks backed up by eyes of gratitude pushed any other response away.
