Whose right-of-way?

I'd probably have a lot less to write about if I didn't run in the morning. Today, I was running up a neighborhood road, just about to cross a side street. I heard a car come up behind me and just as I stepped into the street, the car made a left turn and nearly hit me. We are just two days shy of Daylight Savings Time, so there was plenty light to see.

Given my location and the appearance of the driver, I suspect she might have recently relocated here from another country. Or maybe not so recently. In any case, she smiled at me—giving no indication that she felt she had done anything wrong or unusual.

The experience reminded me of so many trips I've made abroad. There, the rule is "pedestrian beware". Here, we give pedestrians the right-of-way. Maybe this driver didn't know. Or maybe she just hasn't made the cultural adjustment yet.

As Christians, our adjustment to the Kingdom of God is similar. When we start out on our journey with Christ, we know there are things we should learn right away. But learning the subtleties of culture comes in layers and it takes years—a lifetime, really.

Let me never be satisfied with a surface knowledge of my new home.

No wiggle room

The sign at the park reads "Dogs must be on a leash at all times."

Of course there are those who feel rules are made for everyone else. Nothing new about that.

Then there are others who know they should follow the rules. But maybe they won't get caught this time. Yes, that happens too.

But today I saw fresh evidence for why rules can never work. Two people with dogs walking past the sign. The dogs did wear leashes but no one was holding the other end. The dogs ran free.

Rules are incapable of governing behavior. Clever people can always find a way around.

That's the Old Testament way—lip service but no heart. By contrast, it's the Jesus way—the Law of Love—that hems us in. This Law of Love leaves no wiggle room.

Let’s explore

Suppose my wife, Elizabeth, and I make plans to vacation with another couple, the Browns. With excitement and anticipation we decide to travel to Australia.

The day finally arrives for us to board a plane and fly to Sydney. The first few days we explore New South Wales. We visit Circular Quay and the Opera House. We walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, wander through the Botanic Garden, and visit Bondi Beach. We make a day trip to the Blue Mountains.

After a few days, we decide to split up. The Browns have always wanted to see Australia's wild west. They fly to Perth and journey from there. Elizabeth and I, on the other hand, want to visit the more tropical areas in Queensland so we fly to Brisbane and venture from there.

After a week apart, we meet up in Melbourne to finish our vacation together before flying home.

From now on, when we and the Browns have coffee, we will talk about that vacation. There are parts of it we will remember together—shared experiences in Sydney and Melbourne. There are other parts of it we didn't share—experiences we can only describe to one another.

As Christians, our journey with Christ is a lot like this. There are things about the Kingdom we discover together—shared understandings. And there are other things we can only describe to one another. It's one reason why two people following the same Jesus can have such different perspectives and passions.