“clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:12-13

For almost a year now our Church has been involved in an outreach ministry. Every Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9-10am, we stand on the busy corner of U.S. 41 and Laurel Rd. holding, what we call, Gospel Signs. Since Gospel means ‘Good News,’ AND since the world really needs it right now, we get lots of encouraging ‘honks!’ But yesterday, one particular HOOOOOOONK was not for us!

Travelers heading south can make a ‘U-Turn’ on U.S. 41. West bound traffic, though typically permitted to turn right on a red light, are cautioned with a sign saying ‘YIELD TO U-TURN TRAFFIC.’ And like today’s Bible Verse, MOST of us RARELY pay attention to the directive. Yesterday during our Good News ministry, someone who was wrong…HONKED at someone who was right!

I’ve seen it MANY times. The ‘Red Light Turner’ lets the ‘U-Turner’ know that they are imbeciles, morons or jerks by honking their horn at them! When in reality… the HONKER is the one who is legally in the wrong! Immediately I could ALMOST see Jesus flash a windshield sized message at the honker saying “YOU-TURN!” But then I realized “I” was wrong. Jesus doesn’t work that way!

Loving Jesus Christ as much as I do, I sometimes think that what I say, or the advice I give, actually COMES from Him! Often…it doesn’t! When my anger is border-line out of control, I often find myself standing BY myself all alone WITH myself. Screaming at the canyon only echoes noise…not help. When I realize I am honking alone, it humbles me to realize Jesus NEVER RUNS INTO my life with a sign pointing out that I am an imbecile, moron or jerk! Why??? Because I am HIS!

Because ‘I am HIS’ provides me with a TRUE vision of myself, Jesus Christ doesn’t approve of bashing fellow travelers on this road of life. EVEN when that traveler…is ME! I am called to look at myself as Christ sees me. And according to HIM… I AM MAGNIFICENT! Even when I’m honking! I am a child of the Holy, Mighty King! That He expects me to ACT like it is a given!

I pray the next time that honking person comes by, they will take the time and actually READ one of OUR signs, along with the U-Turn one. If we were all truly following the Master with the Holy Spirit as our guide and Jesus in our hearts, we’d all be sitting at the corning waiting on the other guy to GO! Which…come to think of it…isn’t THAT bad of idea!

Are ‘YOU Turn’ing toward Him?