Several months ago, our church distributed car magnets to members and friends of the church.

The magnets are in the shape of the ichthus (fish) symbol for Christians, with the name of the church imprinted on the magnet. Every once in a while, one of magnets can be spotted on a car traveling down the highway, or parked. It helps to create a sense of community. It also provides a subtle reminder that the driver of the car is representative of the Christian Faith and the church.

One of the results is that it causes driver to drive with a little more caution so as not to bring dishonor to either. As I drive a c r o s s t h e t h r e e - m i l e bridge, I often get c a u g h t up in the traffic as it exceeds the speed limit, and I wonder if the driver behind me wonders if the commitment is reality or superficial. It causes me to slow down even as I am aware that slower drivers can motivate others to take chances of passing, weaving in and out of t r a f f i c , etc.

I have yet to be e m b a r - rassed by the driver of a car with the car magnet from our church. I also notice others drivers with bumper stickers indicating they are proud parents of an honor student at a certain school, or who belong to a faith community.

Not often, but once in a while, one can be spotted driving erratically, squeezing through a red light, etc., and I wonder if their children can be proud of them.

Car magnets/bumper stickers tell a little about the driver of the car, but the manner in which we drive tells a whole lot more. Sometimes the message is strengthened by our driving habits; sometimes the way we drive crosses out the message of the bumper sticker.

It's the old adage by Ralph Waldo Emerson at work again, "What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say."