The High Beam Illustration

Yesterday something that amused me happened during a drive through the country.  As the sun began to sink over the horizon and the shadows grew long, I decided to turn on my headlights to ensure best visibility.  Somehow the lights were on high beams that shone into the rear vision mirror of the car I was following.  Noticing this, I quickly toggled the beams to the normal setting.

This also did not go unnoticed by the driver of the car I followed along the road.  I imagine the driver viewed this an an intentional act to urge them to pass the car in the front.  The driver showed his displeasure by giving his windscreen a thorough spray--which caused water to sprinkle all over my vehicle--to my great amusement.  The simple act of turning on my lights to see more clearly sent a message I was annoyed or displeased with the driver ahead of me who instantly retaliated.

It was probably too dim for the driver to see my smile or see me laugh as the droplets rained down, but my hope was the driver chalked up their high-beaming as an simple accident without malice.  In reflecting upon the situation, it illustrated well how a well-meaning person (who is trying to see more clearly) can accidentally annoy someone else who feels compelled to retaliate.  Either party has the power to escalate the situation or to diffuse it by extending grace to the other person--even if the beaming or sprinkling was on purpose.

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 15:1-2, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness."  Rather than assuming the worst about others or taking their words or actions as intended to insult, we can turn away wrath with a soft answer.  It is easy to be defensive and harsh, but it takes strength from God to extend grace and respond with gentleness.  What seems to be an unfair attack could be an unintended message.  But even when people take aim with intent to harm us, by the power of the Holy Spirit we can love others as God loves us, keeping no record of wrongs.