Sanctifying red lights, how to

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Edward_H

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How much wasted grace there is driving cars, especially at red lights.

How well we could use this time.

If we squeezed more grace out of red lights I think the world would grow more peaceful and Christianity would spread like wildfire. Certainly, if we learned how to sanctify “red lights,” our own personal world would take on a wholly different tone, more calm, more cheerfulness, more charity (the charity of God) would spill out of us, not just in traffic, but at work, at home, in our day.

How can we do this?

As we come to a halt at a red light, we can “go against the easy grain” and NOT touch our cell phone. We can offer up that little bit of “fasting from consolation” for some holy intention: for our spouse’s day, for our children’s health, for their holiness in their lifetime, for a thousand different specific or large intentions. Tiny mortifications with a holy intention. Acts of love, acts of reparation, acts of hope, acts of thanksgiving.

Fast from the phone at traffic lights. Mortify our senses a bit, and instead spend the brief time recollecting with God.

What you’ll find is less anxiety, less worry, less pressure, and more “interior recollection with God”.

Instead of getting frustrated with the loss of time owing to the red light, we can pray for others around us.

“Lord how many people at this red light have cancer? Help them more”
“Father, how many people here are worrying about their children’s health or moral life. Show Yourself a Father?”
“My Lord and My God, how many people here haven’t talked with you today, or in the last five years, please accept my little prayer here as theirs…”

10 thousand prayer ideas like this.
 
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Or not listening to the radio while in the car

or not being on phones while using the facilites (God sanctifies all)
 
I never touch my cell phone in the car. My parish priest suggested that we say a prayer when we see an American flag. I do and there are a LOT of opportunities there.
 
Traveling up and down I-5, don’t see many semitaries. Well, not intentional ones anyway.

However, when someone cuts you off, say a prayer. Of course, that kinda comes naturally. Might be the equivalent of red light prayer, come to think of it.
 
Thich Nhat Hanh teaches us to allow those red lights etc…to be as bells of mindfulness. Each time we come to the red light rather than getting agitated use this time to come back to the breath. The same could be done while waiting in line at the store. Different traditions different focus same basic teaching. Love it.
 
I have some audio books like “Fulfillment of All Desire” on Audible for my phone. One can listen to books like this while in the car, too. They keep one’s mind on spiritual things.
 
What, you never ever listen to the radio? there’s no difference…
 
Actually I don’t. Haven’t for decades. It’s enough of a distraction for me to be talking with someone else who is in the car with me. Unfortunately I haven’t found a charitable way to say " please shut up I’m trying to drive here."🙂
 
When driving, if I hear or see any emergency vehicles (police, ambulance, fire) I say a Hail Mary.
 
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