Remember how I was in New York? You know, when I wrote the rare serious post? Yeah, well maybe you remember that we went sightseeing on Saturday in the beautiful weather. This is Charlie in Times Square, in front of an oh-so-scenic NASDAQ ad.

If you’ve ever been to Manhattan, you know it’s a very different place on the weekend. The Saturday tourist crowd is less purposeful, slower, and more clueless than the office workers on Friday. Locals who haven’t escaped the area look even less excited about sharing the streets with us.

Near Times Square, we witnessed an almost-fistfight between a native (in a car) and a tourist (on foot).

You know the “don’t walk” signal at a corner? It seems that most locals (and tourists) see that as a suggestion – if no cars are coming, you can cross.

The problem today was with a man, woman, and tween boy.

Tourist Dad and Tourist Kid were dressed identically: ball cap, t-shirt, shorts, sneakers. I think Tourist Mom was actually wearing a matching track suit. Following the herd, they crossed against the light WITHOUT LOOKING. We stopped at the corner, which allowed us to see the Beemer that appeared to our right, traveling at high speed toward the intersection. Trying I’m sure to get through on a yellow light, he sped up when he entered the intersection and started making short honks about 20 feet away from the pedestrians. Honk-honk-honk-honnnk!

Tourist Family did not appear to notice the sedan loudly bearing down on them, because they kept walking, right into his path.

Now, to his credit, Beemer Guy slowed and stopped about two feet from them (but kept honking), until THEY stopped, and he was sure they wouldn’t step out in his path. At this point, I stopped watching, so I didn’t see any interaction (or rude gestures) between Beemer Guy and Tourist Dad.

Our light finally DID turn green, and we crossed right where the interaction had occurred. Which is why we noticed that the Beemer, now to our left, had not continued on its way. Instead it was backing up rapidly, toward our spot in the crosswalk. This caused us to pick up our pace. But stopping just short of the crosswalk, Beemer Guy jumped out of his car:

“Ayy! @$$&#!%! Yeah, you! Look at the LIGHT, @$&#!%! C’mon over here and say that!”

(Only it sounded like C’mahn ovah heeyuh an’ say dat!”)

Tourist Dad, from about 50 feet ahead of us, pivoted abruptly in his sneakers and long white tube socks and responded,

“You almost hit my KID, @$&#!%”

(Ironically, Tourist Dad and Beemer Guy described each other with the exact same word. Almost like they were arguing over who was the bigger @$&#!%.)

(Which, in a manner of speaking, I guess they kind of were.)

By this time, Charlie and I had pivoted 90 degrees to cross again, so our backs were turned to our arguing friends. I don’t know how it ended, but I suspect Beemer Guy jumped back into his (double-parked) car and shot away.

The local vs tourist exchange got me thinking about perspective. You know, the unique point of view that we bring to any situation.

Beemer Guy apparently thought the Tourist Family were clueless and clearly in the wrong. (I tend to agree with him.) Tourist Dad was convinced that Beemer Guy was out of line in trying to drive across the crosswalk WHEN CLEARLY HIS FAMILY NEEDED TO BE THERE.

I’d like to think that if I’d been in Tourist Dad’s shoes (and tube socks), I would’ve backed down when I realized I was in the wrong. And that if I’d been Beemer Guy, I would’ve just walked/driven away, shaking my head at their cluelessness. But who really knows? It’s not easy to step outside of your own perspective.

But until you do shed your point of view, it’s even harder to offer either apology or grace.

I’m definitely grateful that God (my own personal Beemer Guy) sees me for what I am and offers grace when I do something stupid. And as Tourist Guy, I pray that I’m always willing to see my foolishness from God’s perspective and offer apology.

On perspective and pedestrians is originally posted at: The Red Clay Diaries - Rambling down the dirt road of life Copyright 2007-2011. Use only with permission. Follow me on Twitter. I'm redclaydiaries