Friendly Rivalry

Here in my hometown of Cincinnati, we have a street that runs through the city that divides the East and the West sides of town. This division causes a friendly rivalry between its residents who proudly believe their side is the better place to live.

I have lived on the Westside all my life. I will say that the most negative aspect of living there is the sun shining directly into my eyes, blinding me during my morning and late afternoon commutes to work. 

My usual route to work downtown is River Road which runs parallel to the Ohio River. This scenic route is one of my favorite parts about living on the Westside. 

During my 20-minute morning commute, I turn off the radio to spend that time alone with God in prayer. In those quiet moments, I am reminded of the wonders of His creation when I’m fortunate enough to witness the rising sun and its rays glistening on the ripples of the river. Or when I can see the mystifying steam rising from the warm water on cool days as the skyline of the Queen City stands in the background, stoically ascending with each passing mile.

I never want to take for granted the gifts God gives us every day. Look around. Notice the wonder of God’s creation everywhere: in nature, in the eyes of each person you look into, and even in those eyes you see in the mirror!

Yes, my commutes to work give me an appreciation for all of God’s wonders. And they also reinforce the “fact” that, indeed, “the west side is the BEST side!”

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Feature photo by: Chuck Felix

Inset photo by: Sujin Jetkasettakorn

About the Author

Sharon Lape

Sharon Lape is both the permissions manager and the editorial assistant in the periodicals department at Franciscan Media. She also researches and provides content for the popular Minute Meditations feature. Sharon is a wife and a mother of four children.