Laggards

In the years before air conditioning in cars, summers in Kentucky, U.S.A., were miserable when the heat and humidity approached "100" and you were in a car.  One such blistering day, I was driving back from town with my children.  The air was not moving at all, even though we had all the car's windows rolled down (no automatic 'up' buttons!).

On the dusty two-lane road, we were trapped behind a car moving so slow, it must've been going half the speed allowed.  We couldn't pass, we couldn't turn off, so there we were.

This went on for blocks and blocks.  I broke the silence and started grumbling about the driver and occupants of the car ahead.  "Don't they know where they're going?. . . May I should get closer and give them a push!. . . Don't they know how to drive!. .  . The sign said "35 (mph)", not "10!"

They must have read my mind and drove even slower.  It seemed they were barely moving.  And we were sweltering.

Finally, I could stand it no more and screamed out the window, "Laggards!"

They probably didn't hear it.  I wasn't close enough to tail-gate.  Soon thereafter, the laggards turned left.  Praise God! Then I could speed up to normal speed and we could get a little air moving through the car.  Bless their little hearts, the children said not a word during this ordeal.  I suspect the heat made them sleepy.

Today, I wouldn't yell "Laggards!" or anything out the car window.  Nor would I openly gesture; it's just too dangerous.

But my "laggards" are still present in everyday life.  Laggards are folks who always, consistently, show up late for every event. I try to give them the benefit of a doubt: perhaps they're held up in traffic (every time?); maybe they didn't write down the correct time (every time?); surely, they don't think they're so important they have to make a 'grand entrance? (every time?).

To have a really nice dinner go cold waiting for the laggards would not be fair to everyone who came in plenty of time.  Most of the time, the family just goes ahead and starts to eat and it's the laggards who eat cold food!  Is that mean?

Dear God, You gave me a military man for a dad who taught me to be early so I could be sure of being on time.  Thank You for all the laggards in my life who teach me patience!