So there in the middle of Falmouth is the narrow shopping street which, fortunately, is pedestrian only. Except than when you walk down it you have to stay on the sidewalk because so many vehicles are flouting the rules. Or so you'd believe. There are buses and vans and cars and motorbikes - often in a line. It is the least pedestrian-friendly pedestrian only street that I know.
At the end of the street is this sign. When I read the sign I understood my several years of quiet fury at the hoards of drivers invading the pedestrian space. They aren't.
Access to off-street parking at any time renders the whole point of a pedestrian street meaningless - after all a thousand cars an hour could head down the street to see if there is a space in a quayside car park. And they do. So do the motorbikes (with more hope of a space). The buses are allowed too. And taxis. And for all but five hours vehicles to load.
It struck me, looking at the sign, that this is exactly the way a person, a family, a nation, creeps into the chaos of rebellion against God: an exception here, another here, some excuses over there and a permissiveness in a few things too. Before you know it the semblance of God's ways have become obliterated even though there are signs - perhaps a church spire, or a personal self-identity that say there is faith here.
The exceptions we take to God's plan destroy our ability to enjoy God's plan - which was always the best.
We look forward to the upcoming further deregulation of Sunday trading and the first smatterings of euthanasia.
No comments:
Post a Comment