When learning to drive, you are taught to also learn to check your blind spot. It is one of the critical lessons in driving.
What’s a blind spot and How do you check your blind spot?
It is an area where a person’s view is obstructed. Interestingly, something is there but because of its angle, you just can’t see it. Something is blocking your view of it, though it’s there.
This is the case of what happened to me a few days ago. Let me ask for your mercies in advance as you read this😊
You see, when I lived fully in Canada, I had an active Costco membership. But now, since I am only here for a fraction of time in a year, I couldn’t justify the membership payment.
Here is what I did, I collected one of my sisters card-she didn’t need it. And that way anytime I needed something from Costco I just walk in and use her card. However, I always used cash to pay because the name on bank card must tally with the member’s name.
I did that in Kingston for a few months and I tell you I never even felt I was doing anything wrong, at least they are still making money from my purchases. And all they need is that I show up at their location with a Membership card. Plus I am managing my family finances well.
Anyway, a few days ago in Montreal, I went to a Costco location. I picked up all I needed (I have a full house now). And proceeded to the cash for payments.
The cashier’s helper picked up the card from me, and then asked: “who’s card is this?” I was shocked but😳 calmly responded “it’s for one of my sisters” Well, then she pointed to the part of the card that read “this card is not transferable”.
Wow! It’s true! I never noticed that on the card.
She said in order to buy anything I must register as a member. I gave her my explanation why I didn’t want to get the membership but she insisted. At this point, I was really ANGRY 😡
I didn’t want to be more embarrassed (no yelling was going on, I doubt even if the next person in line knew what was going on). However, knowing I was holding up the line, and she didn’t look like she was going to change her mind. I didn’t also want to part with my money for membership. So I just walked away, angrily. Hoping that they would call me back. But no they didn’t and that made me even angrier.
Meanwhile, my hubby was waiting for me in the car, he saw me approaching the car without the grocery I went to get. He was puzzled; wondering why I was coming back with nothing.
I calmly answered him under so much pressure from the anger. At the point, I began to drive off. Then he reminded me that I still needed the stuff anyway and may just need to do the membership. But then I was already far from Costco. At this point, I began to consider going back. Should I turn back? Do I want to pay? What turn do I need to make in order to turn back? All these and many more ideas were on my mind as I drove on. All of a sudden I realized that I had missed a major left turn.
Oh, men! And then I got on this shaky metal bridge over the St Lawrence River. I usually get scared driving on normal bridges let alone this almost transparent bridge. Driving on this bridge felt like driving on a pedestrian bridge-it was shaky and we could clearly see the water under. At this point, I was jokingly asking God (out loud) whether this was a way to punish me for using someone else’s card (in order words I just realized I had lied a few times). It was really scary to drive on that bridge.
I didn’t realize there was more stress to come…Oh no! it’s a one-directional bridge. I have to go round the South Shore a bit to get back on another bridge to bring me back to the Montreal Island. Drove for a few minutes before we to got back on Champlain Bridge. Facing a heavy Montréal rush hour traffic we drove slowly.
Long story short, we drove for the next almost 1.5 hours. I was mostly quiet throughout. More like; my mouth was quiet but my mind was far from that….”I get it loud and clear! But this is kinda harsh. Why didn’t my father just make me realize this was wrong?”
Why did I have to go through this? Why was I so angry, why did I not calm down, I was happy one of Costco staffs would have to go put back all I wanted to buy, felt like a payback, why didn’t I think of loving the lady at the cash, why did I feel rejected? How come I was so focused on my needs above others? These questions raced through my mind.
Meanwhile, my podcast was playing in the car as we drove. It was a WordFest session as pastor Ade talked about taking on God’s life and not ours. It was at the point he was using the monkey/human life illustration. Yeah preach it on- preach it at me.
Funny he was there listening too. He didn’t say a word, but his voice was pointing at me. At this point, it was mixed feelings for me. I get it, how come I never saw this as deception? But then isn’t this too much to pay for my errors.
The evening wasn’t easy for me at all. I gradually began to hear God speak to me. However, should I share this here on olusobanjo or not? I am ashamed of what people would think of me but thank God I am not living my new life based on my righteousness. Mine are like filthy rags. I took on His’. And gradually work towards becoming more like him inside out.
I wanna be like Jesus…but like a driver, I must be ready to check my blind spot. It’s not just about the black and white stuff, it’s about everything. In short now that I see it, this incidence fits in more into the black and white category for me.
My desire is to be like Jesus but the truth is that I am just on my way there. I am only a wannabe. I run through and seek to become fully like him. The one who gave his life for me.
Paul said…I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!” Ephesians 1:17-19 MSG
Lord, give me the ability to easily learn or understand things you want for me and otherwise. Guide and help me so I can detect what’s going wrong with senses other than my five senses. Help me to pay much attention to the kind of life you have set out for me.
What about you? Have you taken the time to check your blind spot lately? Could there be something there that you haven’t even paid attention to? Is it possible that you may be doing something wrong and not know it? Check your blind spot, pay attention.
you know what? It is my prayers that are being answered actually, because in church on Sunday, I shared “Examine me, God! Look at my heart! Put me to the test! Know my anxious thoughts! Look to see if there is any idolatrous way in me, then lead me on the eternal path!” Psalms 139:23-24 CEB
My idea was that the troubles you experience when faced with difficulties are like the result you get for shaking a bottle of water with tiny sand underneath. Before the agitation, you would almost assume the sand is not there. However, when you shake it, you see it clearly.
All the vices I noticed during this situation had been inside of me but the rejection at Costco brought them to the surface.
Lord, I thank you! I want to be like you, continue your work in me. Help my friends too, those reading this. In Jesus name. I need a revelation of Christ. I need a proper perspective of my new life in Christ. I need to be all about that.
What next? Well, I will continue to pursue knowing my God. I will check if there are any other lies in my blind spot? And deal with them as I see them. And then one day, I know one day in the future, I will face this kind of rejection again and these vices wouldn’t be there anymore. I believe this. So help me God!