Tailgater

I’m driving home.

The sun has just set.

There’s hardly any traffic on this rural road.

The road ahead is clear, and there’s one car behind me.

It’s a little too close, and its headlights are a little too bright.

It is annoying me…….but also reminding me.

It took me back to a race, on the Coromandel coast, that I ran several times and every single time, the same scenario played out. From the gun, the “Elite” runners would disappear around the first bend, not to be seen again until prizegiving, leaving the best of the rest to battle it out for the minor places. As the race strung out, I would find myself in a small knot of runners. Some would push on, while others would drop off the pace. But not this one guy. The “Tailgater”.

Every year, the same guy glued to my right shoulder. This annoyed me too.

It wasn’t like we were racing for first place. The “Elites” were already home and dry, but we were probably the first of the more senior gentlemen, to enter the home straight. My irritation was compounded when, each year, the “Tailgater” would wait for the final 200 metres before releasing a burst of speed I could not match. Big cheers from the onlookers, and instant judgement on me for not having an effective sprint finish.

However, this was not the only judgement being made. I’m ashamed to admit that my judgement of the “Tailgater” was harsh. To me, he was a cheat, stealing my glory at the tape. “If he could run that fast, why didn’t he take on the “Elites” instead of making me look like an old fool?” I thought to myself in my humiliation. Now, several years later, I know this was a complete over-reaction. My judgement was silly at best. Why didn’t I just accept that he had run a really smart and strong race?

The crazy part is that I would normally credit running for teaching me that you can’t judge your fellow runners. Initial perceptions at the start line can be totally misleading. Runners come in all shapes and sizes. Appearances really can be deceptive, especially when so much of our sport depends on what’s in your heart and mind. Not to mention, that any judgements made could, very possibly be harsh, wrong, and even unchristian.

As the car behind me turned off, my mirrors went from bright to black. Suddenly, it seemed like I was alone on the road. In the solitude, I reflected on my day…… my week….. my past. There was plenty of compelling evidence. The verdict was clear.

I had judged others.

I wondered if I still was.

I whispered an apology to the “Tailgater”.

Later, I prayed, and looked to the Gospels according to Luke, for guidance.