Yield to your brethren

ByHal Hammons

A local fast-food emporium (which continually refuses to compensate me for all the publicity I give it) has a couple of yield signs in the parking lot.  All traffic yields to pedestrians (thanks for that), and “before food” traffic yields to “after food” traffic.   Makes sense.  If the “after food” cars can’t go, they get stalled at the window.  Then no one can go.

That leads me to Monday.  And a young lady waiting in line to order.  Blocking traffic.  Texting.  Completely oblivious to the traffic jam she was causing.

This is a picture of self-centeredness.  It’s not necessarily mean-spirited or ugly.  It’s borne out of ignorance, not malice.  There is no evil intent.  And yet three vehicles sat idly, food in hand and paid for, burning time and gasoline, while she told her friend how the line just refused to move.

OK, the last bit is speculative on my part.  But I am not speculating when I say I have known dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Christians who caused a great deal of inconvenience and anxiety among their brethren by simply remaining blissfully ignorant of their surroundings.  When “do what I want” is the only consideration, chaos ensues.  In fact, “selfish ambition” is called “demonic” in James 3:14-16).  Turning a blind eye and deaf ear to the needs and desires of others creates resentment, chaos and dysfunction.  I mean, how could it not?

If instead you cultivate a “yield” philosophy — “be subject to one another in the fear of Christ” (Ephesians 5:21) — you will lighten the burden of those around you, encourage them to also yield at the appropriate times, and help create a general spirit of community and mutual respect.  And you’ll probably wind up putting yourself out a lot less than you would think.

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