Intersections

This Intersections topic is about one of my pet peeves.  I don’t have many pet peeves but the increasing lack of common courtesy in everyday life is one of them.  I don’t have to look beyond Central Expressway on my daily commute to see a plethora of examples of discourtesy.  It’s not just on the highway where courtesy is lacking.  Courtesy seems to be an endangered species in America in almost every sphere of life.

Paul writes in our Relationship Matters source passage in Titus 3:2 “to show perfect courtesy toward all people.”  There are many reasons for Paul’s encouragement to Christians to show courtesy to all people including maintaining a good reputation in the community, keeping lines of communication open for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, avoiding unnecessary conflict and maintaining good will within all relationships.  However, I think the main reason for showing courtesy to those with which we cross paths is that it is simply the loving thing to do.

The primary outward sign of a faithful Christian is the love that we show for our fellow human beings (John 13:35).  When we are rude and discourteous, we are not demonstrating love for those around us.  So why is discourtesy so rampant even among Christians?  I think one of the main reasons is the pace of modern life.  Going back to my highway example, why are we competing with the other drivers on the road as if our commute was a NASCAR race?  Will my blocking move to keep that pickup from merging in front of me really get me to my destination any sooner?  Honking horns, blocking moves, sign language and single-rider HOV violations while the rest of us sit in traffic are all symptoms of the disappearance of common courtesy.  The problem extends beyond the roadway.

The incredible pace of life has extended to every area of life.  We are in such a rush to move from one event to another even within our personal lives that we just don’t seem to have time to be courteous to those around us.  For a good illustration of this problem and the increasing rarity of simple courtesy, check out the TV commercials from the Pass it On folks at Values.com.  The Let ‘em in spot is a good place to start.

This next week, let’s try slowing down and giving courtesy a try.  Open a door, make a hole in traffic, drop a few pennies in the “need a penny” tray by the register and say “yes sir,” “yes ma’am,” “please” and “thank you.”  Courtesy is good for you and good for those around you.  Good advice when relationship matters!

Until next week,

Meet me at the intersection!

Previous Intersections Articles

Why Me?	Three Birthdays	Doomsday Preparedness 101

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