People who live on islands can understand being water locked. And while
those in the Midwest may better understand the term landlocked, those of us in
California have a new term, traffic locked. Years ago we would ride up to
Malibu, spend the day riding the canyon roads, hang out at The Rock Store, then
eat the best fish and chips at the Malibu Fishhouse. Returning home after over
400 miles, sometimes 500, of good riding, just in time for dinner, and always
before dark. But those rides seem like a dream to me now, as my last ride to
Malibu, read lane splitting, took over 31/2 hours, and was so wiped out, I ate
and turned around and came home. More lane splitting. It seems with so many
new homes being built, and people occupying them, everyone lives on the freeways
any more. At one time there was nothing between Escondido and Temecula, now
2000 new homes, a branch of Palomar at the 76, and casino traffic makes the road
almost impassable. It is customary to see I-15 north backed up to the 78 from
Temecula, over 30 miles on any weekday afternoon. The once traveled back roads
I enjoy now are used as overflow, as commuters look for an alternative, now also
backed up with new stop lights, and stop signs. And yet they continue to
build....
Last week a car ride form Temecula to Escondido took over an hour, we were
caging it. Wanna go to the beach, used to be a 20 minute ride from my house,
now figure at least 30 minutes, and leave early, as after 130 pm on the 78 it is
backed up for miles. Got an hour to waste....these people obviously must. So
traffic locked is the new word to enter into your lexicon, defined as living in
California with cool places to go, and you just cannot get there. And as they
build more and more, a day at the beach means more time sitting in traffic than
on the sand. Plan ahead, leave early, and join in with the others thinking like
you. But the drivers don’t help either...
California is the only state I have ever driven in, I have in 48 for the
record, where any turn on the freeway means you drop 20 miles per hour of
speed. Can’t risk spilling that latte...add in any rise in elevation, same
thing, the BMW that blew by you one hand on the wheel, the other texting,
suddenly slows and blocks traffic, which he cannot see because his face is
buried in his lap, where his phone rests. Add in those who only feel
comfortable in the far left lane going below the posted speed limit, and you can
see the problem. You may even be reading this while driving, adding to it. We
have become the most traffic locked state in the union, although every big city
metro area has its traps. But looking across eight lanes of stopped traffic on
I-15, you have to wonder, how did we ever get into this mess? What has happened
to the quality of life here? Add in the highest gas prices in the nation, more
than a dollar more than the other 15 states I just got back from, and you can
see, how the old song that “they paved paradise and put up a parking lot” was
really talking about our roads. And of course, just for entertainment value, we
all must slow down for any car on the shoulder....
Yet somebody passed these drivers, some city council OK’ed the building,
and some one voted for the law makers who made the laws. Funny how they show up
at the polls, but not in public. But easily identified as the Prius doing 50 in
the fast lane, with save the whales and support planned parenthood stickers.
Like a sign in my friend’s office says “some people are alive only because it is
against the law to kill them.” Unless you are a fetus...and we wonder why we
are so stressed.
But being traffic locked is nothing new, even one man can cause a traffic
jam or interrupt its flow. Take the man who was beaten on the road, from
Jericho to Jerusalem, nicknamed “the bloody road,” injured, bloody, and probably
passed out, the Jewish priest passed by, slowing to look of course, then
proceeded, not wanting to touch anything dead as his laws proclaimed. A priest
also was too priestly to stop, maybe even cussing the man for laying there, what
if a kid saw him? And looked away and walked away. Yet when a Samaritan, who
were hated by the Jews as half breeds, stopped, we see the mercy of Jesus in
him. He was the only one who didn’t change his course, and instead stopped,
attended to his wounds, then put him on his ride and took him to an inn.
Leaving money and telling the innkeeper, I’ll be back, and cover any additional
charges. Traffic permitting, of course. Showing compassion, just like Jesus
would and does, yet how many today curse the man broken down so the lookie loos
can slow down and look? “Her ruined my ride home,” what about his ride?
Amazing the power of one person to cause a traffic jam, while another by
providing aid remedied it. Why can we not be more like the Good Samaritan?
What if we were stuck on the side of the road? Needing help, and the EMT’s
couldn’t get through because of traffic lock? Do you pray for those next to you
stressed out in traffic, curse the biker because he can split lanes, and just
sit there wishing to be somewhere else? Such is SoCal in 2018. Just be
careful, that person broke down may sit next to you in church next Sunday, then
what will you say?
Traffic may be the problem, but Jesus is still the solution. Spend time
with him stuck in traffic, maybe take a break and not hurry, he never hurried,
and was never late. Leave early, stay late, drive smart instead of driving
hard. The times tell us we will for sure be traffic locked, don’t be
spiritually locked too. Don’t step over a Lazarus on the way, or avoid a
wounded Samaritan. Your best and most effective witness may be reaching out to
the one in need, or putting down your cell and paying attention to driving. For
sure being traffic locked is her to stay, but so is Jesus. Don’t block him out,
don’t lock him out of your drive time. The two holy men obeyed Mosaic laws and
avoided the injured man, only one who showed the law of love, the one Jesus gave
us took action. Just some thoughts for tonight’s ride home from
work......remember whatever you drive, they all get zero miles per gallon at
idle. Don’t you be idle either.
And pray it never threatens a few drops of rain...
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com