Guest Post: Watching for Pedestrians

by Sarah Huxford

There’s a spot near my house where my dog, Miller, and I need to cross the street that makes me nervous. The massive trucks and SUVs of my suburban neighborhood fly over an adjacent hill, and it’s hard to hurry across fast enough.

As we crossed this morning, Miller got distracted by someone taking out the garbage behind us — right at the moment that an enormous black truck crested the hill, certainly speeding. We made it across in plenty of time, but I glared at the truck’s driver from behind my sunglasses. “People need to slow down,” I grumbled to the dog.

Then I caught myself. When I drove over that same hill yesterday, had I slowed down and watched for pedestrians? I was certain I hadn’t.

When I’m the person in the car, it doesn’t occur to me to be careful in that spot. I’m more likely to think pedestrians need to just get out of my way. After all, I’m bigger and more powerful. I could hurt them if they don’t watch out. (Never mind that in many situations, pedestrians legally have the right of way.)

But when I’m the person walking, I have a totally different perspective.

But when I’m the person walking, I have a totally different perspective. I’ve got precious cargo on the other end of the leash, and I’m hurrying across that street as fast as I can. I’m doing my best. I’m trying to get out of the way, but really, I just want drivers to be careful… to keep an eye out for living things smaller and less powerful than they are. There’s no question who’d win in a collision between my body, or my dog’s, and a giant truck — but we have a right to be walking there.

I think I needed that reminder this morning. When I’m the driver — whether that’s because I’m white, or (relative to much of the world) wealthy, or (again, relatively) young and healthy, or lucky enough to have gotten a good education — it’s my responsibility to watch out for those who are walking. My faith requires me to put myself in the shoes of those people and ask, “What can I do to help them get across the street safely?”

Don’t believe me? Ask Jesus:

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew‬ ‭20:16‬ ‭(NRSV‬‬)

“That’s when you’ll find yourselves out in the cold, strangers to grace. You’ll watch Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets march into God’s kingdom. You’ll watch outsiders stream in from east, west, north, and south and sit down at the table of God’s kingdom. And all the time you’ll be outside looking in—and wondering what happened. This is the Great Reversal: the last in line put at the head of the line, and the so-called first ending up last.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭13:28-30‬ ‭(MSG‬‬)

“For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:42-45‬ ‭(NRSV‬‬)

His point is pretty clear. I’ll be reminding myself this week to always watch for the pedestrians — to ask myself what I can do to help those who are less powerful, less privileged than I am. I hope you will, too.

Sarah Huxford is associate professor of communication at Point University. She also works as a graphic designer and communication consultant, and is proud to be the daughter of Wye and Vicki.