The Hot-rod
In all fairness, I’d say that neither my wife nor I will ever be considered “grandma drivers.” In fact, between growing up in IL and then moving to New Orleans, I’d say our first fifteen years of driving were done where others are far more aggressive drivers than they are around here. Two stories should illustrate that.
The first story involves my lovely wife. We had moved to New Orleans and my wife wanted to test drive a car, a Dodge Stealth, that was around $35,000 (which in 1990 was expensive). The bigger concern, on my part, was a car with that much oomph combined with, how shall I say it, my wife’s propensity to push the speed limit, in my opinion, was a dangerous combination. It was a completely impractical car for our young family, and I think as soon as she got in it (and I wedged myself in an inadequately small back seat), she knew it too. I was scared silly while she was test driving worried that she’d get in an accident and we’d have to fix that car (this was in New Orleans).
My wife is not a maniac driver by any means. However, she will arrive at her destination in less time than it takes others and intuitively knows the short cuts that I’ve never expended the effort to learn. She does, however, stretch the definition of limit in speed limit.
My story involves a work educational conference in KC. We were trying to get the maximum number of people to attend with the minimal expenditure of company resources so we decided to rent a van to get there. This was a full-size van that I remember being concerned was too tall for the parking ramp. We got there and parked fine. On the way back, because of where we were, we ended up on Interstate 70, instead of Interstate 670 around KC.
There was construction and a merger of lanes. I drove down the merging lane much further than the riders in the van thought was appropriate. I heard about that several times until an article was published about zipper merging to substantiate my strategy.
In both examples, on the continuum of aggressive driving, my wife and I fall on the more aggressive side. Being an aggressive driver is not bad per se but may concern others especially those that fall on the timid side of the continuum.
Personalities are like that in that there is a continuum of passive/aggressive behavior.
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,” - 2 Timothy 1:6-10 ESV
“And the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘Is there any man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his house, lest he make the heart of his fellows melt like his own.’ And when the officers have finished speaking to the people, then commanders shall be appointed at the head of the people.” - Deuteronomy 20:8-9
“And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.”- Job 32:6
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” - 1 Peter 4:10-11
Ultimately, God gave each of us different gifts. How we use them determines whether they are good or bad.
