Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington

From the

Official News Magazine of the Diocese of Spokane

Spirituality:
Mind your driving

by Father Michael Savelesky, for the Inland Register

(From the Sept. 29, 2005 edition of the Inland Register)

While driving through our construction-ridden city last week, I got stuck in traffic behind a driver whose antics were more than a bit frustrating, to say the least. At first I thought the driver was suffering a heart attack. Feelings of real concern and alarm had started to well in my heart.

After a while, however, I discovered the real cause of the erratic driving pattern: An empty plastic bag was wafting its way down the street and the driver was avoiding contact with it. His caution seemed similar to that which one would exercise when confronted by an angered Brahma bull. Stay out of its way!

By the time the wind puffed the bag to safety, the driver had nearly caused 15 other drivers to lose their cool as we exercised our own defensive driving skills – avoiding him!

Totally oblivious to the hazardous situation he had created, the man drove on with the satisfaction of one having completed a difficult mission of international proportions. My reaction – and that of my fellow drivers – was admittedly exaggerated. Being the saints we are (or are trying to be), however, the incident gave way to spiritual reflection at the next traffic light.

Occasionally, each of us finds ourselves driving through life, concentrating all the while on issues, problems, or circumstances that we judge to be of supreme importance. From another (and perhaps more realistic) perspective, those issues, problems or circumstances are empty, or at least relatively inconsequential.

Sometimes we do chase after an emptiness whose perceived importance is puffed up by pretence of power or feigned challenge. And often we do so at the expense of others. We fight our battles or go our way, oblivious to the impact our actions and antics have on those around us.

Christian spirituality calls us to our senses. It gives us perspective and makes us aware of our relationships. Obstacles do cross our paths. Very frequently, they do so in unexpected ways and at very inconvenient times. It is tempting to pursue the obstacle, letting it define our values and consume our energy and attention.

Whatever shape they take, these obstacles can distract us from the important things in life. They have a way of pulling us away from where we should be headed. Our life in Christ bids us take these obstacles in stride and give them an honest look.

Given our salvation in Christ, there is no obstacle which is ultimately life-threatening. No obstacle deserves our full and undivided attention. Jesus reminds us that we need to concentrate our hearts and minds on the Kingdom and the ways of God.

Our life in Christ also bids us recognize the value and importance of those around us. We are not alone. How we live and the decisions we make affect others, for better or for worse. Isolation from others is a figment of the imagination. Without a doubt, how we manoeuvre through the obstacles that come our way has an impact on the world around us.

Christian spirituality is a matter of growth – growth in our awareness of the Kingdom of God as our true goal in life as well as growth in our awareness of the community of brothers and sisters who share that vocation with us. These are the things in life that really matter – and even erratic drivers should not distract us from them.

(Father Savelesky is pastor of Assumption Parish in Spokane. His book, Catholics Believe, is available from Harcourt Religion Publishers.) (Download an order form in pdf format to print)