Almost every time I’m behind a car, waiting on a green light, the light will turn, and I’ll have to wait for the driver in front of me to notice, and then go. That, or I have to give them that polite, yet affirming, “quick honk” that I hope says to them, “hey fella, the light is green, you can move along” and in my mind really says, “get off your d@&n phone and go!”

I know, I know, I sound like an old guy that is also likely to scream “get off my lawn” (which I have yet to accomplish, and hope to someday), but hear me out. I think people are surprised by green lights. They don’t mean to be. They pull up to that light with every intention of waiting for the green, but as time lingers, and seconds pass into the eternity of boredom, they look to pass the time, often on a phone. Then, they get caught up in the phone, as one does, and are genuinely surprised when the light turns green.

I’m not actually mad at the green light surprisers, they have me thinking of something bigger.

What are the things in our life that we are eagerly anticipating, but miss the opportunity because our focus is on the wrong thing? What moments with my wife, my kids, my friends, do I miss because I’m too engrossed in something that doesn’t matter at all to notice the thing that does?

When I get to the end of my life, what green lights will I be surprised I missed, wishing someone had given me that polite honk to get me back on track?

That’s what’s keeping me up tonight. How about you?