Just some quotes I’d like to share with you.

John 8.3-7
3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle.
4 They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.
5 Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”
6 They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
7 But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Matthew 7.1-5
1 “Stop judging, that you may not be judged.
2 For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.
3 Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?
4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye?
5 You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.

“Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” –St. Francis of Assisi

“Reflect upon your blessings, of which every man has plenty, not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” –Charles Dickens

“All of the above.” –Amy Lavergne

Anyway, I made this in Photoshop.

No, it’s not a joke.

Lots of folks are talking about these Vatican-issued “10 Commandments for Drivers” and I find myself in a weird sort of limbo (for lack of a better term) on my feelings about them.

Here are the so-called “Commandments”:

1. You shall not kill.
2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.
5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.
6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
7. Support the families of accident victims.
8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
10. Feel responsible toward others.

Okay, so, I have to admit that the first time I read this headline I thought it was a joke. It’s not beyond me that the Vatican would issue a set of guidelines for road behavior; perhaps it is even needed. But to call them the “10 Commandments” is a bit much for me. Why give such a holy name? It worries me that the Vatican is starting to worry too much about marketing to people.

Anyway, I guess I do like the guidelines themselves. My favorite is number five, about cars being an expression of domination. I believe the Vatican is reaching out to all the Hummer 3 owners out there that feel like just because I drive a cute little Ford Focus they can treat the road like a monster truck rally… and my car (and myself in it) like a toy to be thrashed.

And the fact that people are talking about it is good; a little awareness can do no harm.