22 February 2026

I make a long-ish commute each day into the office, most of it on three-lane freeways or two-lane highways. I try to drive during “off-peak hours” to limit the chance that I’ll die on the commute. Car accidents are the third leading accidental causes of death, you know. Normally, the early-morning or late-evening commuters know the drill: right lane/fast, middle lane/faster, left lane/fastest; Pass on the left; Always signal your intention; Move over for flashing lights and stalled vehicles. It’s a joy. Until it’s not.

A couple of times this past month, we’ve had an anomaly. Some drivers did not obey the off-peak-driving-laws, posted or unspoken. In particular, we had a driver doing maybe 50mph in the center lane. I noticed the sea of red-brake-lights and sudden-turn-signals ahead of me long before I arrived at the scene of the crime. My first response was irritation, but then a prayer… please God, no accidents and protect this driver. I exited at the 494/61 exit before I reached him/her, so I just assume God did what God needed to do.

Here’s what I’ve been pondering lately: One person can change the course of a journey. One chance encounter can save – or ruin - a life.

Adam and Eve are out for a stroll in the Garden, talking, laughing, loving, perfectly enjoying each other’s company, when they happen upon the talking serpent. Jesus is out for walk in the erémos (a solitary, secluded Israeli space) talking, fasting, enjoying the company of His Father, when he happens upon the tempter. Adam and Eve encounter and engage the cunning serpent and the course of the world is forever changed for its detriment. Jesus’s encounter and engages the tempter and the world is forever changed for its Good.

Last week’s readings were all over the wisdom of the Lord and the beauty of the law, both of which come into play into times of temptation. The law is a little like those white or yellow freeway lines that keep us from crashing-and-burning. Wisdom is a little like the speed limit: It helps us move along in our spiritual life at the right speed, slow-and-steady or fast-and-furious, depending on our circumstances.

The spiritual life is a lot like my morning commute. I’m out there in the fray, doing my thing, staying in my lane, and praying with the Lord on the way to my final destination. Once in a while, out of nowhere, there’s a great disruption in the flow… some evil-doer who wants to break the law, disrupt the flow of God’s plan, and convince me to do the same. And then some quick choices need to be made and extra prayers offered.

When we pray the St. Michael prayer, we ask the Lord to “thrust into hell, Satan
and all evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls.” Is Satan, the quite cunning tempter, awaiting some personal/national calamity or hanging around our vulnerability corner waiting to encounter and engage us this Lent? Is he hoping for chance encounter to disrupt our Lenten journey? Absolutely yes. The question is… how will you respond? #wisdomandgrace