Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone. Fourth time in as many months. How could a guy get caught so often? When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour, Jack pulled over, but only partially. Let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard. Maybe some other car will tweak his backside with a mirror.
The cop was stepping out of his car, the big pad in hand. Bob? Bob from church? Jack sunk farther into his trench coat. This was worse than the coming ticket. A cop catching a guy from his own church.
A guy who happened to be a little eager to get home after a long day at the office. A guy he was about to play golf with tomorrow. Jumping out of the car, Jack approached the man he saw every Sunday, but
had never seen in uniform.
“Hi Bob. Fancy meeting you like this.”
“Hello Jack.” fairly stern faced with no smile.
“Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and kids.”
“Yeah I guess.” Bob seemed uncertain.Jack continued his excuse giving “I’ve seen some long days at the office lately. I’m afraid I bent the rules a bit. Just this once.” Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement.
“Diane said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight. Know what I mean”‘“I know what you mean. I also know that you have a reputation in our precinct Jack.”
Ouch- Jack thought! This was not going in the right direction. Time to change tactics.
“What did you clock me at?”“Seventy. Jack, would you go sit back in your car please?”
“Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as soon as I saw you. I was barely nudging 65.”
The lie seemed to come easier for Jack with with every ticket.
“Please, Jack, in the car.” Bob repeated.
Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open car door. Slamming it shut, he stared at the dashboard. He was in no rush to open the window. The minutes ticked by. Bob scribbled away on the pad.
Why hadn’t he asked for a driver’s license? Whatever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat near this cop again at church.
A tap on the door jerked his head to the left. There was Bob, a folded paper in hand. Jack rolled down the window a mere two inches, just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip.
“Thanks.” Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice.
Bob returned to his police car without a word. Jack watched his retreat in the mirror. Jack unfolded the sheet of paper. How much was this one going to cost? Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of joke?
It certainly wasn’t a ticket. Jack began to read:
A fine and three months in jail, and the man was free. Free to hug his daughters, all three of them..
I only had one, and I’m going to have to wait until Heaven before I can ever hug her again.
A thousand times I’ve tried to forgive that man. A thousand times I thought I had. Maybe I did, but I need to do it again. Even now. Pray for me. And be careful, Jack, my son is all I have left.
Bob
Jack turned around in time to see Bob’s car pull away and head down the road. Jack watched until it disappeared. A full 15 minutes later he pulled away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and
hugging a surprised wife and kids when he arrived.
LOVE-HOPE-PEACE In Our Changing World 
I think your article will touch a lot of people, especially those who can identify with the speeder. We are all responsible for our actions and the choices we make will have consequences. Hopefully not disastrous like described in your story. May we all slow down and live life to its fullest.
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I pray it does touch people’s lives. You are so very right–we all need to slow down! Thanks for the comment 🙂
~streim~
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The photo is awesome. It is just what we need here!
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Some people find it difficult to accept that rules were NOT made to be broken, and that Christians are to OBEY the laws of their country, unless of course, obedience to the country’s law is against the laws of God, where “we ought to obey God rather than man” [Acts 5:29] supercedes.
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Yes, I just read today in Titus where Paul told Titus to tell the people of the churches in Crete “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers,to obey magistrates,to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man,to be no brawlers,but gentle,shewing all meekness unto all men.” Titus 3:1-2
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Stephanie, another excellent post. This one ended up as a link on my fb page, too. 🙂
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