Pulling Over
She was driving along the busy highway, speeding alongside the other cars, many of which were driving even faster than she was. She was almost home when she glanced in her rear view mirror and saw a state trooper several cars back. Sure enough, those flashing red and blue lights came on. She steered her sedan over to the shoulder and began to fumble for her license and insurance card. In all her years of driving, she had never had a ticket—a few warnings, yes, but somehow she had managed to escape the fines. She was livid. Why had she been singled out among the dozens of speeding cars? She was just keeping up with the traffic!
As the trooper approached and she rolled down her window, she was still hopeful that she might once again avoid a ticket. Then the trooper pulled out his booklet of citations and began to write down her information. “You were going 68 miles per hour in a 60 zone”. Her anger abating, she responded. Yes, I was, but so was everyone else. Why did you stop me instead of one of the other speeding cars?
The trooper calmly handed her the citation, and politely answered:
Yes, ma’am you’re right. There were plenty of cars speeding and I could have stopped any of them…but you were the one who pulled over.
Well. That answer didn’t do anything to lower her blood pressure, but it was honest, and suddenly the humor of the situation struck her. If she just hadn’t pulled over but kept on driving…
This family story usually came up when we were talking about a Murphy’s law sort of event known as being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Today, I’m putting a different spin on it. That speedy driver was practicing what I call the art of pulling over. There were a lot of other people who could have stopped, but she was the one who responded to the signal. The one who pulled over was aware of her surroundings. The one who pulled over was able to take responsibility for her actions. The one who pulled over didn’t try to hide in the crowd. The result may not have added to her happiness factor or her bank account, but since I’m spinning the story anyway, I’ll project her motivation too: She would rather be the person who pulls over than the one who ignores the right thing to do.
When I look around at the overwhelming needs in our society, I can be stymied. On top of a pandemic, a war? It is hideous and heartbreaking. If peace is not possible, could we at least have a break? My efforts seem as futile as the old story of the Dutch boy who put a finger in the dike to prevent a flood. I wonder, along with many of you, what the actions of one person could possibly do to stem the tide of evil, or even to rescue one single child from harm. I don’t want to get tangled up in staggeringly complex issues or in deciding my entire life’s purpose. I sincerely want to do one thing that will impact this crisis.
The first step could be to pull over out of multi-lane and confusing events. Pulling over means noticing what it around me, responding to one signal, and refusing to hide in a hand-wringing crowd. By pulling over, I give myself the chance to see the one thing that I actually CAN do. In a recent Advent book, minister and author John Pavlovitz writes about the opportunity we have to be available to others. He describes being available as a genuinely spiritual act. The spiritual journey isn’t about ability but availability; it’s about being attentive, present, and willing, and knowing that we are always equipped to help. 1
Being the one who pulls over is not always an easy thing to do–There is often a cost attached. I could continue to write in metaphors or spin stories for words have power. I wouldn’t be a writer if I thought my words made no difference to anyone. Today, however, I’m using the work of my hands, and I don’t mean typing. Just as the day was starting, an opportunity arose to help special needs children in the Ukraine through an event sponsored by my family. I share this, not as a pat-me-on-the back party, but as evidence that when you pull over towards the Presence, there is a 100% chance that you will get a Spirit-nudge/signal. There will be something you can do. Today, be the one who pulls over. I guarantee you won’t get a ticket, though there may be a cost. It will be worth it.
Blessed are those who have a regard for the weak. The Lord delivers them in times of trouble. Psalm 41:1 NRSV
In this tile, a woman crouches with her arms outstretched and hands that are large and open. Trailing down the side of her body and onto the ground is my version of a quote from nature poet Mary Oliver:
What will you do with your one wild and crazy life?2
What Oliver did with her life was pull over into nature (hundreds of times), bring out pencil and paper, and write powerful words that pierce our souls and move us to action.
Today, let’s not get tangled up in deciding our entire life’s purpose. Let’s narrow the scope of this question: What one thing can I do today to help this wild and crazy world?
O God, you often spoke to us about service using metaphors and symbols like lilies of the field, or cups of water. We pray this day for a realistic task we can do, and the will to do it. Amen.
1Quotation from Rise: An Authentic Lenten Devotional by John Pavlovitz, 2022. Even though Lent 2022 is coming to a close, I recommend this excellent book. Pavlovitz’ stories and advice are relevant no matter the season.
2Here are Mary Oliver’s actual words, from the poem, The Summer Day 2016.
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
