Monday March 28 2016  UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES 

WE HAVE ARRIVED!  Literally.  Our ultimate destination has been accomplished successfully.  And we are so thankful.  The world is moving faster and faster.  It’s as if, no matter how fast the speed limit is, it is just not fast enough.  If it is 55 mph  I might fudge and go 57 mph (in the slow lane) just so I can say I’m going over the speed limit and therefore not be considered “a little old lady driver”.  It seems as if other drivers are trying to push me off the road. 

My eyes were opened last year to the daring speeds of 75 mph and 80 mph on two lane roads with traffic signals.  I came close to being a statistic.  I was so thankful that Wisconsin only had 65 mph as their highest speed limit, that is, until I arrived home and found out it had been raised to 70 mph.  When it was 65 mph it was very usual for most cars to travel at 75 mph or 80 mph.  So, now that most freeways and highways are 70 mph it seems a high percentage take the leeway and travel upwards of 80 to 90 mph.  Even in the rain.

Dave and I shared driving off and on today to make the travel less tedious.  It was beautiful clear sunshine when we set out this morning from Live Oak, Florida, and I drove about two hours.  Dave took over and in no time at all the skies turned gray and the thunder and lightning began, along with torrential rains.  He drove about an hour and we stopped and traded seats again.  The rains stopped when I began driving.  Later Dave too over and again the rains came down. I kid you not, when Dave was driving it was raining, sometimes ferociously.  The roads were wet to the point that at one time the car hydroplaned.  He slowed down and drove between 60 and 65 mph.  What was so amazing were those cars that absolutely flew by at speeds that may have exceeded 80 mph and an additional few drivers that whizzed by so quickly that it actually startled us.  Finally the rains abated for a few moments while Dave was driving.  He again accelerated to about 70 mph so he wouldn’t be run over. 

I often wonder why people think they can get away with breaking the law so blatantly.  About the time I was thinking that, the rain had stopped and I noticed a string of cars on the opposite side of the highway which had been pulled over by several different policemen.  I smugly thought it was about time.  We noticed everyone slowed down.  About a mile past the string of flashing lights all the cars going in our direction started speeding up again.  It’s interesting how quickly the 70 mph speed limit can become popular, at least until the policemen are out of sight.  Stop and think about how you drive.  Are you the impatient dare devil, coming up quickly on the tail end of a car as the other driver is passing someone in the slow lane?  Is it you who hugs the car bumper ahead with only one car length in between going 80 mph?  Or perhaps you are a bit more courteous and follow the speed limits “even if everyone else is doing it”.  The “it”, simply means breaking the law of the land, putting yourself above all others, thinking you are more important than anyone else on the road, and you have the right to make other driver’s get out of their way, even when the speed they are driving is above the speed limit?  It’s as if no one stops to think about unintended consequences.  What about the “WHAT IF’S”?

Every decision we make has a consequence, be it intended or unintended.  Just entering a toll road is a decision.  You want to get from point A to point B.  Going faster than the speed limit is a decision.  You want to arrive sooner rather than later.  But, do you ever think of the unintended consequences that could happen because you are in a hurry?  Do you ever think about the unintended consequences that could happen just because you enjoy the thrill of speeding, zigzagging between the traffic and riding the bumper of every car you come upon, even in the rain?  Maybe there is a reason there are laws and rules.  Maybe those reasons are intentionally designed to make the world a safer place. 

Today I witnessed an unintended consequence.  The roads were wet.  The rain still coming down sporadically with cars whizzing by at breathtaking speeds.  By this time we were a couple of miles past the string of speeders who had been pulled over.  The traffic was again picking up speed.  I was in the passenger seat and was looking off to my right.  At first it was hard for my mind to register exactly what I saw.  There were two cars that had flown off the side of the freeway, one wrapped around a pole-like tree and another car close by.  The one wrapped around the tree had hit it head on, creating a crumpled mess of broken car, fiberglass, and caved in front seat area with thick billowing black smoke coming out of every opening.  The other car off the freeway had not hit a tree and came to rest in an upright position.  A woman was standing by the car with her head in her hands with an expression of disbelief.  We could not stop safely, but I called 911.

I do not know how it happened.  I don’t know who may have been at fault.  All I know was that what I viewed was definitely UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES for all those involved.  I don’t know how many passengers were in that decimated vehicle or what the condition the occupents may have been in.  I do know the car hit at high speed due to the crumpled mess and I do know with certainty that it was on fire.  I immediately prayed for those involved.  I DO NOT BELIEVE ANY OF THOSE INVOLVED WILL ARRIVE AT THEIR ULTIMATE DESTINATION TODAY, NOR PERHAPS WILL THEY EVER.  Did the driver ever once think about the unintended consequence of driving so fast in the rain?  Dave and I did, all day long.  We were cautious without being dangerous to other drivers.  We drove in the right lane of the two lane tollway.  We passed other cars when it was safe, and lowered our speed to match the slow lane of traffic once the rain began.  And we prayed.  We prayed that we would not meet unintended consequences as we continued our miles. 

Please give thought to what I have written above, especially if you may fall into the category of the law breaker.  I believe we are instructed in God’s word to obey the laws of our land.  So, is it a sin to blatantly speed and not give thought to other’s safety, even if you don’t give thought to your own safety?

It was very sorrowful to see that car in flames, knowing that someone was still inside and the 911 responders were still far away.

Don’t Rush, Even when Late.

By Kathleen Martens

March 28, 2016

Unintended consequences

Not for the faint of heart.

But perhaps one should think

Before their journey starts.

The decisions we make each day

Have great bearing on our fate.

The moral of the story goes,

Don’t rush, even when late!

I do not mean to end this blog on a down note, but what I saw today really shook me up.  THINK BEFORE YOU “DO”.  Use wisdom before you act.  Wisdom can be described as using your knowledge to make the best decision possible for each circumstance.  SLOW DOWN ON THE HIGHWAYS and maybe you won’t become a statistic on the billboard above the Interstate!  Better yet, maybe you won’t be the cause of someone else becoming a statistic!

Thank You Lord for loving all those who You created.

Thank You for safe travels this day.

Thank You God that I believe in who You are.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU WHO READ THESE WORDS.