The inner streets of old Vienna seems so sweet. The mixture of narrow asphalt and cobble-stone combined with the contrast of shops pushing global designers or local wanabes makes attractive for locals and tourists alike. The only problem comes in driving. Parked cars every where, every street deciding at random to be one-way, and pedestrian blocks make navigation problematic. Yesterday I messed up. There are no excuses, I cannot find any errors that I can blame on anyone else, it was just poor decision making on my part.
The net result was this. Newspaper footnotes could have read as follows; “a blue Volkswagon Golf was spotted going down a one-way pedestrian mall for two blocks in the wrong direction. Lives were at risk! Safe outcome for all proves evidence of miraculous intervention in human lives when least expected.”
I thought it was incredibly funny by the time we finally arrived at a auto-friendly roundabout. When we finally were able park safely, I was bombarded with questions. Did I know it was a one-way street? Did I realize that it was a pedestrian only street? Didn’t I know that I was not supposed to be on that street or going in that direction?
Yes, in the middle of things I did realize I was in the wrong.
Yes, I did recognize that I was where I was not supposed to be.
Yes, I understood that I was on the verge of major destruction, I just wanted out!
“Keep the rules and keep you life; careless living kills.” (Proverbs 19.17)
Everyone yesterday was safe except for the toll that stress takes on each person’s life. For reasons I do not fully appreciate I am leaving Vienna without a ticket, fine, or blot on my otherwise blemish free European driving record.
I am the first to admit that I do not deserve to be in my position. Life as I know it could easily look very different from the indication given by today’s bright dawn. I wonder; am I talking about Vienna or my state of being with God?
