Our city has installed a few roundabouts to keep traffic moving safely through intersections.
While roundabouts are very common in Europe, they are not as common in North America. This is very apparent when you watch the actions of some of my local drivers. Many seem to be unaware of the correct procedures. My trips to and from work are often an adventure!
In Canada, we enter the roundabout to the right while checking for traffic, pedestrians and bicyclists on our left. We yield to the traffic already in the roundabout as they have the right of way. If there is no traffic and it is safe to enter the roundabout there is no need to stop. Once we have entered the roundabout, we proceed counterclockwise at a steady speed until we need to signal and leave the roundabout. We proceed to the right at our desired exit. There are additional rules for roundabouts with multiple lanes.
In my hometown, we have simple one lane roundabouts. I have seen drivers who are already in the roundabout stop to let another driver enter. This causes much hand waving and shoulder shrugging by the driver who is supposed to yield. I have seen other drivers fail to yield to someone already in the roundabout. They zip out in front of the driver with the right of way - causing that defensive driver to squeal the brakes. Many drivers forget to use their turn signal to show others the exit they plan to take. Maybe they assume we all know where they are going?
Perhaps the drivers making the errors think they know the right way to use a roundabout, or they don’t care, or they are focused on other things? So, it is with life. Some of us are comfortable with life and think we are heading in the right direction to one day find our place in Heaven. We think we are good enough to make it on our own merit. Others of us don’t care to think about Christianity or life after death at all. Some of us are so distracted by life events that we don’t focus on our need for a relationship with God.
In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”. We can enjoy a right relationship with God as our Heavenly Father when we personally trust the Lord Jesus Christ and accept Him as our Lord and Saviour. In addition, He wants to have a personal relationship with each one of us while we are on life’s journey.
Are you heading in the right direction? Although we may be easily distracted and can only concentrate on a few things at a time, God is infinite and is not limited by time or space. He knows all things. He “shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4). He will watch over us and guide and keep us on our journey and someday welcome us home to Heaven.
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