Roundabouts

To drive in Italy is to place one’s well-being entirely into the hands of God. Italians might appear to live life in the slow lane, savoring every moment of la dolce vita, but they drive as if they have no time to spare. Vehicles whiz by as if they were high speed trains and tailgate anyone who attempts to go the speed limit. If Italy has traffic laws one would never know it as drivers make up rules as they go. Pedestrians, Vespas, bicycles, scooters, and Segways appear out of thin air and dart in and out of traffic as if they own, rather than share, the roadways. All of this magnifies the anxiety of trying to navigate one’s way around a foreign country. I have lost count of my many mistakes, missteps and miscalculations and the natives have not been very forgiving. So many of them have expressed their irritation with me by laying on their horns or cursing that I’m beginning to think it’s the new national pastime!

I lamented my woes, crying out to God, “God, help me please! I am in a foreign country and I do not know the way!” God answered my prayer in the form of roundabouts--circular intersections that allow traffic to flow in one direction. The roundabouts recently built in Roswell and Alpharetta are small and simple compared to the large, multi-laned ones in Italy. Here, there are as many or more roundabouts than in most countries and at first I feared them. I wondered, “When do I enter the roundabout? Which lane do I choose? What if I need to change lanes? Who has the right of way? What if a pedestrian or bicycle enters the roundabout? How do I exit?” Roundabouts were a source of anxiety but now they are a source of comfort because they help me to turn from going the wrong direction and they guide me toward the right path. If I make a mistake, I can be assured that there is another roundabout waiting to turn me around and redirect me.

This act of turning from one way and toward another is at the core of our lives as Christians. While we are on this earth we are living in a foreign land until death brings us to our true home. We do not know the way and we make many mistakes, missteps and miscalculations but God’s mercy knows no end. God is constantly putting roundabouts in our path to lead us away from those things that are not life-giving and to guide us toward the path of new life. These roundabouts may come in many forms: a relationship with another, an experience of pain or heartache, an opportunity to practice generosity or an occasion for reconciliation.

We will have the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation this Tuesday evening at our Lenten Penance Service. This act of turning or conversion is the heart of Lent. As the Elect experience a conversion in mind and in heart, we who are already baptized are called to a similar conversion, one that guides us toward the promises made at our baptism.