Not Seeing the Forest for the Trees

Today is an unusual day for this spring in Minnesota. The sun is out (we've had so much rain that I've thought about a trip to Arnie's Used Ark Emporium), the temperature is north of 65, and there's a light, pleasant breeze.

I just got back from running an errand and the mass of drivers on the road, who could be driving the limit and enjoying the trip before the insanity of rush hour begins, were hurrying about as though every moment that they "wasted" in this unbelievable weather cost humanity irrecoverably. Darting in and out, moving five miles to go one mile, speeding, cursing, they were all just generally wasting the potential of a beautiful experience in the Midwestern sun.

Which, I wonder, is the greater waste: an extra few relaxing moments in the pleasant weather with the window down or the expense of energy, both physical and spiritual, is rushing to something that will be forgotten by the trip home?