Last week I was driving through town on my way to a lunch meeting, when I had a meeting of a different kind. It involved the crunching sound of metal hitting metal. The result was a significant dent in my back panel. Thankfully, no one was hurt and cars can be fixed.

The driver of the other vehicle apologized profusely and cooperated completely. I was in her blind spot and she didn’t see me as she veered into my lane.

We all have our blind spots, don’t we?

It’s those things we don’t see, usually about ourselves. I might throw out an opinionated point-of-view without considering how it sounds to those around me. Or I may jump to a conclusion based on my own biases. It’s possible for me to get so wrapped up in what I’m doing that I fail to appreciate what someone else is doing.

Blind spots.

Occasionally I am in someone else’s blind spot, like the other day. That’s when I need to extend some mercy and grace, some kindness and patience.

The Pharisees had some serious blind spots.
Jesus had harsh words for them.

“Woe to you, blind guides!
You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.”
“Woe to you, you hypocrites!
You are like whitewashed tombs,
beautiful on the outside but full of dead men’s bones.”
“Woe to you, you bunch of snakes!”
Matthew 23

The truth is, I’m not that much different.

“Accept my repentance, Lord, for the wrongs I have done:
for my blindness to human need and suffering,
and my indifference to injustice and cruelty,
for all false judgments, uncharitable thoughts toward my neighbors,
and for my prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from me.”
Book of Common Prayer, 1549

My car will soon be fixed.
I will keep working on my blind spots.