Torch, Summer 1989

I remember the afternoon an unman– nerly driver endangered my life when he insisted on a more favorable position in traffic. As he raced past me and surged between lanes of traffic, I quietly schemed for an avenue of retaliation. I must confess my intense pleasure as I noticed a disabled car about one block ahead in his curb lane. I accelerated until I was beside him. I knew I had him. Then with smug satisfaction I gazed in the rearview mirror at the scores of cars behind me which would force this poor fellow to wait a long time before he could change back into our moving lane. As I waited at the next intersection I was already experiencing the Holy Spirit's firm reminder that what I had just done was wrongfully motivated and discourteously achieved. Many people drive with incredible rudeness , and that afternoon I joined them. The origin of the word "etiquette" dates back to the days of King Louis XIV of France. Little tickets known as "etiquettes" were issued as invitations to functions of the king's court. On the back were printed instructions for behavior while in the presence of His Highness. Today the word is defined as the forms, manners , and ceremonies established by convention as acceptable or required in social relationships. Manners and courtesy are companion words. But King Louis XIV did not invent etiquette. God did. The Apostle Paul spoke of etiquette to the Corinthian church. He said, " ... love doth not behave itself un– seemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil" (I Corinthians 13 :5). The point is that when we love others we are not rude and self-seeking. Rather, we should practice an unselfish approach in everything. This attitude is behind all truly courteous behavior. Millions of words have since been spoken and written in an effort to instill in us the true spirit of good manners. This has been a difficult task since we are by nature inconsiderate. "For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 2:21). Today, social scientists insist that courtesy is "out" and discourtesy is