New Driver. Rookie Driver.

Have you ever seen those bumper stickers on the back of a car? When I see it, I tend to give some space and latitude to the driver. I remember what it was like to be a rookie driver (and my poor patient father, God rest his soul), and I know what it was like to be a parent of rookie drivers. (Was that the beginning of the grey hair?)

Knowing who is driving and what their experience may be, puts me in a more attentive frame of mind when I am out on the road. I will be forgiving of the cautious driving, the slow acceleration or the wide turning ratio. I will give that driver room and time to make the turn or park the car.

I also think of the other type of bumper stickers that can define the driver- the political, social, and educational ones. Through bumper stickers or window stickers, you sometimes can assume a whole story of someone: their family size, occupation, interests, educational background (themselves or their children), for whom they voted, vacation preferences, even their sense of humor. While it can give us a picture of the other driver, those signs still are all assumptions: I assume that because this driver promotes “x”, they will be in my “y” category of people. I may give them latitude and understanding and I may not.

But what if we all had personal bumper stickers explaining our states of mind, our experience, and our internal struggles? Would we be more gracious and forgiving of one another? Would we give others latitude knowing their struggles? Would we give them time to learn?

If only they knew…. “Best friend overdosed.” “Parents drunk, again.” “Spouse left me.” “ First time out of the house in eighteen months. Petrified.” “Feel like a failure.” “ Lost my job.”

If others only knew the thoughts and worries going in our heads, perhaps they would be a little more patient with our cautious-ness, slowness or general poking along the road of life. Short of knowing what others are going through, we just make assumptions that everyone else should just straighten up and fly right.

Instead of putting the onus on others to disclose their story, what if we just treated everyone with universal respect and kindness? A version of “personal protective equipment or universal precautions of pleasantness”, if you will.

Jesus tells His disciples to act towards others as you would want them to behave towards you. The Golden Rule (Matthew 7: 12). I am sure that we all have “stuff” going on in our heads. (Can’t only be me.) When we are bothered by things, isn’t it refreshing to have people around us that give us a little grace when we may forget an appointment? Or latitude for our lateness? Or just a smile when we are feeling blue? Imagine what our world would look like if we gave room and grace to those who are struggling?

We should treat all people as the image bearers of God that they are. Especially those who have experienced and are living into the grace of God. “We should be called the children of God; and so we are.” (1 John 3: 1). We should treat others with compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. (Colossians 3: 12).

What about you? What would be your personal bumper sticker? Is it one you have worn for a long time? Do you wish it could be removed? Do you find yourself affected by the stickers and logos on another car? How do you respond?

The thing is, I truly believe that with God’s help, we can change those bumper stickers. They can be removed: that rookie driver will become experienced, the addict can be healed, the marriage can be saved, and the broken life can be restored.

In the meantime, wouldn’t it nice to have the leeway and space as we go along, knowing that how we behave and treat others, they in turn offer to us?