Rules of the Road

I stood on the sidewalk of a busy intersection, and as the traffic signal turned green and the pedestrian “walk” light appeared, I carefully looked both ways before proceeding to cross the street when the coast appeared clear. About one-third of the way into my street crossing, three motorscooters making left turns zipped across in front of me while a large truck made a hasty right turn behind me, spewing dark smoke in my direction. After I made it across the street, I found that the sidewalk was impassable due to dozens of motorcycles parked there, so I continued my trek on the side of the road, sharing it with what appeared to be half of all vehicular traffic in the city (the other half was going in the opposite direction). A hundred meters past the intersection, a truck was parked on the side of the road with a door swung open wide into the street, forcing me and the motorscooters into the fast lane of the road briefly. A bus honked as it closely brushed by me while I skipped across a small pothole. I approached another intersection, and noticed that nearly all the vehicles that were waiting for the light to turn green started to move forward several seconds before the light signal actually changed.

Remarkably, no one on the street, whether pedestrians or motorists, seemed particularly upset by the apparent chaos that reigned on the road. I did not hear any cursing or swearing, and the honking by the bus driver seemed more out of habit than driven by emotion. It was business as usual...

...in Taiwan.

Most Americans who visit Taiwan (or most other densely populated lands, for that matter) would have been quite terrified by such street encounters. However, I have learned over several visits there that the secret to safely navigate Taiwanese streets on foot is to recognize and follow local rules (mostly unwritten) of the road – e.g., stay out of traffic if you can, don't make sudden moves, don't assume that a green “walk” light means that vehicles aren't going to make turns into your path, trust that that when you see motorcycles or cars approaching you closely, they are generally not going to hit you but will pass in front or behind you (you can't tell, so just keep moving carefully at the same speed and in the same direction!), and when vehicles are stopped at the red light, they are not actually waiting for their light to turn green...they are simply waiting for the green light in the other direction to turn red. Walking like an American pedestrian in the busy streets of Taiwan would be terribly difficult and scary; conversely, behaviors that are acceptable in Taiwanese roads will easily get you an encounter with a police officer in a typical American town. The rules are different, and following the wrong ones will get you into serious trouble.

Similarly, there are “rules of the road” for worldly success, as well as separate principles for living victoriously in Christ. To succeed in the worldly sense, one is often reminded to study hard, work hard, get a good job, climb the corporate ladder, make lots of money, keep up with the Jones, enjoy life, avoid pain, look out for “number one”, protect reputation, achieve ends/goals by whatever means possible, and to accumulate lots of stuff, because as the saying goes, “He who dies with the most toys wins”. However, adhering to such principles will frustrate those who wish to live according to God's prescription for success. The Bible reminds us to:

Love the LORD our God “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

(James 1:2-3)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

(Romans 12:1-2)

We are also commanded to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, seek first the kingdom of God, humble ourselves, be compassionate, be thankful, and trust that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

It is often too easy for us to neglect God's words and get caught up in the traffic and cares of achieving worldly success. We need to remember that as Christians we may not die with the most toys, but we ultimately are the winners, as our treasures are in heaven.