Take a breath

 

The Avis coach driver, with a friendly smile, helped lift one of my bags onto the bus. I joined the handful of others going to pick up rental cars. As the driver inched away from the curb and into the turbulent traffic at LAX, her radio was at high volume and tuned to a Christian radio station. The two men on the program were discussing anger management, suggesting that Jesus, by writing in the dirt when confronted with the men accusing the woman caught in adultery, modelled for us how to step aside, take a breath, when anger threatens to overwhelm us. They suggested Jesus was infuriated by the injustice of the accusers only bringing the woman for judgment, and not the man as well.

‘No, no, no!’ my bus driver shouted at a dithering driver in front of her, drowning out the speakers on the talk show. She gestured wildly at a car in front which was weaving in and out of slowing traffic. ‘Keep going, keep going – move over!’

Traffic bubbled and boiled as does a river when encountering a rocky descent. Skilfully, she pulled the bus into the space vacated by the probably terrified driver in front, muttering to herself.

‘Not supposed to be stopping here. Can’t read the signs?’

The men on the broadcast continued to discuss the rage in society today.

Honk! The driver slammed her hand down on the horn, again and again.

‘What are you doin’?’ she demanded of another driver in a luxury car in front of the bus. ‘Careful with that rental car you’re drivin’, mister. Bet you don’t have one of those at home. Come on!’

A light changed to red and the bus stopped. A lost pedestrian gestured to her from the other side of the street, and she opened her window. He shouted a question for directions, and she shouted instructions back to him as the light changed to green. She sounded kind, helpful. But then she pulled away, shaking her head.

‘Ain’t nobody s’posed to be walkin’ round this airport. That’s why the buses are free!’

As tired as I was after getting up at 3.30 am, and just off an 11-hour flight, I couldn’t help smiling at the timing of it all.

It’s pretty easy to slip into critical thoughts or words even against a background of praise music or an encouraging message. Life itself can drive us up the wall, where we give way to our baser instincts, to rage.

At the start of what will be a challenging day, I want to remember to pause, to ‘write in the dirt’ before giving a response, whatever situation I may be in.