Similar to other large cities, Johannesburg has very intense car traffic and one can spend much time in the buzz of it, especially if there is load shedding (the rationing of electricity), when the traffic lights become inactive, lengthening the journey as the intersections become 4 way stop signs forcing the drivers to wait for each others’ turn. It works surprisingly well, despite the extra time that it takes to move around the city and get to the desired destination.
To add to this hectic situation there are the taxi drivers. Here in Joburg they drive 12 passengers vans but like in other places they think they own the streets. They find it natural not to wait for their turn, to cut others off, to make wrong conversions, and to change directions without signalling. So the regular drivers find themselves all the time being intimidated by the taxis.
It is interesting that sometimes we get so tired from being bullied by the taxis that we begin retaliating and driving like them, impeding their passage and cutting them off. In other words we start imitating them by doing to them what they do to us. Sadly however our instinctive reaction is not limited to the taxi drivers but to all those who in some way harm us.
As Christians, however, we should never allow the wrong behaviour of others to determine our own behaviour, but only allow the Christ who we follow to control our actions and reactions. Becoming the salt and light of the world that influences the surroundings without being influenced by it.
If not, we will only measure forces with the taxis and that can only end up one way, in a crash that we will be the only ones to regret. Let’s drive our life safely!
- How do you react when being cut off in traffic?
- How do you think that Jesus would drive in our days?
(Reacting to adversities, Luke 6:27-29 / Reacting to evil, Romans 12:19-21)