Blame it on the taxis?

Travelling from Randburg to Pretoria in the early morning traffic can be a nightmare. Anyone listening to the traffic updates on the radio will hear almost daily about troubles on Malibongwe Drive. Traffic lights, accidents and taxis are some of the major causes of frustration, which in turn lead some people to road rage too.

“Do taxi drivers act at home the way they do in traffic?”

Taxis invariably pass you on the left verge or bump along the dirt track next to the road or even cross over from the right. Four of them jumped a red robot in front of me. And no one ever seems to get arrested.

My point is not so much a diatribe against the traffic police but to ask what this behaviour says about lawlessness? Surely we should obey laws not only if there is a risk of punishment? If taxis can treat the law with such disdain why can’t I, especially when we think we can get away with it?

What does all this griping have to do with Holy Family Sunday, when this edition of The Southern Cross will be on sale in the parishes? What does it take to be, become or try to be a holy family?

I don’t believe it is just about a family that religiously comes to Mass every Sunday, even though that is an important and very valuable component to building up family spirituality. Being a holy family is holistic, encompassing all aspects of family life.

Pope Benedict XVI put it beautifully in his apostolic exhortation Africae Munus: “In a healthy family life we experience some of the fundamental elements of peace, justice and love between brothers and sisters, the role of authority expressed by parents, loving concern for the members who are weaker because of youth, sickness or old age, mutual help in the necessities of life, readiness to accept others and if necessary to forgive them” (43).

A healthy family then would be on the way to being a holy family if they then also recognise God present in and amongst them through their actions, as well as experiencing God’s presence in church. Living out the positive values and experiences would contribute to their wholeness, wholesomeness and holiness.

The example of love and care they receive at home, and also of justice and integrity, can and should be carried over into society. At the same time, what we practise in society does also impact on what we do at home.

So I wonder what those four taxi drivers who added to my travel frustration do at home. Are they impatient with their wives and kids, or are they part of a group of rootless, lawless men without families, who sometimes abuse girl passengers and are themselves also at the mercy of taxi owners? Or is that generalising too much?

Life is not easy for any of us, but we are called to commit to obeying the law and living righteously.

The suggested family theme for 2015 is “Marriage and Family, committed to Love and Life”. The January theme is “Committed to a good start” and daily reflections on aspects of commitment for the months of January-March can be found in MARFAM’s “Thoughts For The Day” booklets.

For each of us that theme will be applied in its own way. For now I hope and pray that there will be fewer taxi accidents, injuries and deaths these holidays. And I shall be watching out in January to see if anyone at all will mend their ways and obey the rules of the road, not just for road safety but also for promoting a healthier attitude towards the rule of law, for the sake of our children’s future and our family’s safety.

For now I wish all readers blessings and safe travelling for the remainder of the Christmas season, and may the Holy Family inspire and protect you into the New Year ahead.

MARFAM publications and the 2015 Family Year Planner can be viewed and ordered from www.marfam.org.za and