Missed opportunities

[chataranga]

Greetings to all,
I’ve recently returned from visiting my son and his family(which includes a new grandson who live in Port Orange Fla. Each day I would go for walks or runs or both several times a day in search of some sort of silence as well as fresh air.
On the Sunday before Easter Sunday I took a different route from my usual. This route brought me past several churches all within about three blocks of each other. As I was walking along a sidewalk near the first church which was catholic I had to stop at the crosswalk as there were stop signs for pedestrians there. There was also a stop sign for the car traffic. Apparently mass had just ended as there was a convoy of at least 20 cars coming from the church. I got to the cross walk after some cars had already been there and gone. I stopped and waited and waited and waited. Not one car stopped long enough to really be considered more than a yield. I’m sure I was there about 2 minutes. After all cars had gone I continued on my way somewhat agitated. I’m convinced that if any of the drivers had made eye contact with me I’d have been allowed to cross earlier. They apparently were only looking for cars.
I rounded the corner and came to a second exit from the church parking lot and the same thing happened, but fortunately for me there were only about 5 or so cars left so my wait was minimal. Still kind of agitated I walked down the block a bit further and there was Presbyterian church across the street with a sign that read something to the effect- Looking for something to give up for lent? How about anger and hatred? That was a bell of mindfulness for me to come into the moment and let go of my agitation.
I’m just wondering at this moment if those folks received the eucharist as unconsciously(unworthily?) as they drove their cars at that intersection. That is if they partook as some may not have. Blessings to all.

 

[Altruist]

Here’s hoping that I understand what you’re asking, and answer your question satisfactorily.

It is a New Jersey state law that all motorists are required to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. You were at/in the crosswalk, as you stated. Thus, the Mass-goers should have yielded to you, and allowed you to cross in the crosswalk.

In the past, let it be known that I have experienced many a case when there were clearly-posted signs advertising this law, even without a crosswalk, that was disobeyed.

Now thinking about what happened here, with regard to the gravity of the sin committed by the Mass-goers, since your life was not in danger, while the state law was broken, your life was not endangered. When considering the gravity of disobeying a government’s law, I usually judge the appropriateness of a law based on what moral principles it upholds. If the law does not uphold any moral principles at the moment (i.e. preventing the loss of life), then, in most cases, I consider it a law that, if broken, is not that much of an offense. And so, if any sin was committed, I believe it would be fair to say it was venial; because your life was not threatened, and, at worst, you were made to be more patient. Remember, patience is a virtue! Also, I further believe that we cannot definitively know what was going through the heads of these motorists. Indeed as you said, apparently they were only looking for cars. In this case, the culpabilities of full knowledge and consent would be wiped out.

I hope I understood you correctly, and that my comments are of use to you.

Regards and God bless,
Mark

 

[chataranga]

Altruist,
Thank you for your comments. I did not mean to imply that these folks sinned by not allowing me to cross the street. I did however mean to imply that they were unconscious of my presence because it seemed they were in a hurry to get elsewhere and therefore not driving very mindfully and therefore a missed opportunity to be charitable to a stranger and. I was never in harms way during this event so that was never an issue either. I’m glad you mentioned patience as a virtue as it isn’t one of my strong suits though I have been working very hard at becoming more patient for several years so thank you for that.
Blessings to you and yours-stay safe.