A Moment I Can’t Shake Off
Last night, on our way home after a rare dinner out, we narrowly missed being part of a multi-car accident.
Someone had been driving erratically.
Naturally, like many others at the scene, I assumed the driver was drunk or high.
Two young men from another vehicle weren’t restrained; they pulled him out and started hitting him.
A young guy, probably in his mid-20s, was trying his best to shield himself while being accused and beaten.
As the crowd began to scatter, something told me to stay.
I walked over.
He wasn’t drunk.
He wasn’t under the influence of anything.
He was just... exhausted.
He was driving for Uber or PickMe on his way to pick up a ride.
He admitted, with a soft voice and eyes full of fatigue, that he had fallen asleep at the wheel.
Just tired.
Nothing more.
I checked to see if he had any serious injuries and gently asked him to cancel the ride and go home.
Rest, I told him.
Please don’t risk your life or someone else’s because your body has had enough.
Driving home, I couldn’t help but reflect:
Why are we so quick to judge?
So eager to lash out at someone without understanding what they’re going through?
As Jesus said, “Let the one without sin cast the first stone.”
And this young man … who knows what he's carrying?
Maybe he’s working double shifts to pay for a sick parent’s medication.
Maybe he has a child at home.
Or maybe he's just trying to survive in a world that doesn’t give him a break.
We don’t know anyone else’s story.
So let’s stop jumping to conclusions and start offering a little more compassion.
I truly hope he made it home safe, that no serious harm was done, neither to his body nor to his soul.
Someone had been driving erratically.
Naturally, like many others at the scene, I assumed the driver was drunk or high.
Two young men from another vehicle weren’t restrained; they pulled him out and started hitting him.
A young guy, probably in his mid-20s, was trying his best to shield himself while being accused and beaten.
As the crowd began to scatter, something told me to stay.
I walked over.
He wasn’t drunk.
He wasn’t under the influence of anything.
He was just... exhausted.
He was driving for Uber or PickMe on his way to pick up a ride.
He admitted, with a soft voice and eyes full of fatigue, that he had fallen asleep at the wheel.
Just tired.
Nothing more.
I checked to see if he had any serious injuries and gently asked him to cancel the ride and go home.
Rest, I told him.
Please don’t risk your life or someone else’s because your body has had enough.
Driving home, I couldn’t help but reflect:
Why are we so quick to judge?
So eager to lash out at someone without understanding what they’re going through?
As Jesus said, “Let the one without sin cast the first stone.”
And this young man … who knows what he's carrying?
Maybe he’s working double shifts to pay for a sick parent’s medication.
Maybe he has a child at home.
Or maybe he's just trying to survive in a world that doesn’t give him a break.
We don’t know anyone else’s story.
So let’s stop jumping to conclusions and start offering a little more compassion.
I truly hope he made it home safe, that no serious harm was done, neither to his body nor to his soul.
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