Ancora Imparo -- We are all on our Ls

I got my “Ls”

It's short for "Learner's Permit." When a student passes their written driving test they say they got their "Ls." A year later, they can pass their practical test and then they get their "Ps," which lasts for 2 more years.

When they drive they are required to display a large black "L" with a yellow background on the back of the car. This lets everyone else know this driver is still learning. Perhaps you can give them extra distance. Maybe you'll be more cautious about tailgating if they are going slower than you like. Maybe you’ll try to demonstrate responsible driving. Or maybe you'll just resist the urge to honk and get angry when they make a mistake.

It made me think, what if we all walked around with an "L" on yellow square? Could it remind us to give others some extra space to grow? Would we be less aggressive in our interactions? Would we try harder to set a better example? Maybe we would hold back on angry responses when something they do annoys us.

My mom loves this phrase, "ancora imparo." It means, "Still, I am learning." Michelangelo is purported to have said it when he was 87 years old.

Of course we are all still learning. But we tend to not allow that same continued learning for others. We are disgusted or judgmental if someone makes a mistake or has a setback. We dismiss them as being incompetent or immature, insisting they master items on a timeline and in an order more convenient for us.

To "L" with our judgment. We are all still learning.

In 1 Samuel 16:7 it says, "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." I may have trouble seeing into the heart of everyone, but if I picture them with a big yellow "L," it will probably remind me to see the best in their efforts. I can leave the deeper insights up to the wisdom of the Lord.

------------

*In Australia the process for getting a driver's license is much longer. 

At age 16, you can take a written test to get a learner's permit. They can drive under supervision of someone who has had a license for at least 4 years. When driving, a large black "L" with a yellow background must be displayed on the back of the car. 

When they are 17 and have completed at least 50 hours of driving, and it has been at least 6 months since obtaining their "Ls," they can take a practical driving test to qualify for a Provisional License that lasts for 2 years. A large white "P" must be displayed with a red background for 6 months, and green background for the remainder of the 2 year period. 

During this time of training the blood alcohol content of the driving cannot exceed 0.00%, even if they are old enough to legally drink. The legal drinking age in Australia is 18. So if the student is getting their license as early as possible, for that year that they are 18 years old there can be NO alcohol at all in their system while they drive.