Folks with Signs Along the Highway Exit Ramps Part 2

I met a guy (Saturday, February 21st 2015) name Robert Sherman (name uncertain), who was holding up a sign asking for donations along the popular I-94 exit ramp on Ruth Street (St. Paul). I was walking to Firestone to see if my car (air intake valve loose) was fixed. I hesitated at first on passing by him, but I remembered a share from a friend (Bobby) from church on sharing the “Good News”. I prayed and walked across the street to hear his story. He told me that he’s been on disability. Was incarcerated and been struggling to get a job. He repeatedly shared how it’s hard to not have people label you due to your “past mistakes”. He then told me is a Christian. I tried to encourage him, that God will provide. I asked him what he was “begging” money for and he shared, he needed some money to buy a t-shirt from Family Dollar Store and sugar to make Kool-Aid for his kids. I then “preached” about the health “negative” effects of that drink. He then told me, ” I can’t do anything about it if my kids want it” (he clarified that his kids were in their 20’s..lol! I then decided to go to Aldi’s next door and buy some “healthy foods’ (bag of apples, some granola bars, and a dark chocolate bar as a dessert ‘)….

He thanked me and I asked if I could do a short prayer for him, which he was willing to receive it after I gave him this stuff (earlier he asked for $1). He told me he took the city bus from E. 3rd St. just to get here and hopes to “make enough” $$ then he plans to go home. This happened on a Saturday morning around late teens to early 20’s (Farenheit), with sunny weather. ..

Other Stories:

Man shames panhandlers who refused his job offer USA Today Network Jessica Durando, USA TODAY Network 8:45 a.m. EST December 16, 2015 kare11.com
“…Standing next to two panhandlers in Iowa, one man held a sign that read, “Don’t give money.”

He had apparently offered them a job at his business and they refused.
..”

What would you if you were in my situation ?

Good News Sociology
https://www.facebook.com/groups/139706352858524/

Road Rage Behind the Wheel Reflection

I go to the “big” Cities almost once a month to visit my family in St. Paul (Twin Cities-3 million population) . I “try” to avoid going there during rush hour because I just disliking waiting during rush hour. However, it’s sometimes hard to avoid due to construction at times between my departure and arrival destination.  I usually pray and put the Armor of God almost every morning when I get up, but I try to remember to do an extra prayer for God’s protection prior to long distance driving. What has helped me over the years since becoming a Christian (back in 1996-see story) is my love for Christian music-particularly praise and worship. I love playing this type of music when I drive, which has made me more calm and relax during the intense driving situation (e.g. particularly stormy weather).

I’ve seen countless “road rage” driving going to the Cities and through the Cities. Some that I can think from the top of my head is during rush hour going to the Twin Cities, I saw this car drive on the “emergency side” of I-94. I’m guessing it was for an emergency, but whatever the reason was-it was a crazy scene!

Another “crazy driving” was actually while driving back to Morris from the Twin Cities. I was driving west bound on I-94. There was this car with “youthful” adults that would drive the “speed lane” (left side) and then slow down intentionally along a car to the right, so no other cars could pass. They would do this repeatedly until I exited from the highway going to Morris. I almost got “rage” and wanted to drive by them and show what I thought of them. However, I was reminded of dangerous deathly stories of people that try to “fight” these “crazy drivers” and take it in their own hands, so I didn’t want to take that chance. Instead, I’ve learned to “pray for my enemies” (e.g. Matthew 5). What would you do in this situation?

There are many other countless stories, which I’ll probably add more as it comes to my mind. The reason for writing this during this particular time is because of my most recent (January 23rd-25th 2015) trip to St. Paul. I was going to pick-up pizza from the Dominoes in Sun Ray Shopping Center after ordering online (I love this feature as it allows anyone to choose their toppings and how much of it in the pizza!) at my parents’ house. While I was driving on Ruth St. pass the bridge over I-94. There was traffic and the car ahead of me just took 2 lanes, so I wasn’t able to get to the right turn lane going east on Hudson Boulevard. Well, the car behind me honk and that got me frustrated. I opened my driver side window and put my hands up showing them I couldn’t get through. Well, the driver in front of me thankfully saw this and pulled forward enough for me to get to the right lane. Well, I continue to my destination (Dominoes) and was still “boiled-up” in my blood as I was very frustrated with this guy behind me as he was going fast and was close to my bumper. The “devil” on my right shoulder told me to hit the brakes and let the guy ram into me. The “angel” on my left shoulder told me to just ignore him and keep going.

Thankfully, he ended up pulling to the left turn lane to go to one side of Sun Ray shopping center parking lot. I continued and went to the next entry (close to the main Sun Ray sign). Well, as I was pulling towards Dominoes, the guy that was behind me was pulling to the business (Boston Market) adjacent to it. I was walking fast to Dominoes to see if he would cross paths with me. He ended up hurrying to Boston Market and I then went to Dominoes with no incident. I saw this as God’s intervention to “hold back” me from saying something to him that probably would’ve got myself in trouble..lol!

The story isn’t finished yet! After I picked-up the 2 medium delicious pizzas from Dominoes, I was driving back to my parent’s house across the interstate. I was on the left turn lane on Hudson Boulevard about to turn left on Ruth Street heading north. Well, 3 cars ahead of me was going slow and the car behind it didn’t have the patience. As that slow car veered to the right to enter westbound on I-94, the impatience driver behind them stuck his left hand out and gave the middle finger! This last incident within a short time span inspired me to write this!

Got any similar stories? How do you deal with impatient drivers? Ever been a perpetrator/victim of road rage?

Feel free to share below your personal experiences “directly” or “indirectly” with road rage or any related topics I shared above with our facebook group or the comments down below->

Good News Automobile

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