by MANFRED KOEHLER
Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in
a 55 zone. The flashing red in his rearview mirror insisted he pull
over quickly, but Jack let the car coast. 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.
He slumped into his seat, the collar of his trench coat covering his ears.
He tapped the steering wheel, doing his best to look bored, his eyes on
the 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 Christian cop catching a
guy from his own church. A guy who happened to be a little anxious
to get home after a long day at the office. A guy he was about to
play golf with tomorrow. Jack was tempted to leave the
window shut long enough to gain the
psychological edge but decided on a different tack. Jumping out
of the car, he approached a man he saw every Sunday, a man he'd never seen
in uniform.
"Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this."
"Hello, Jack." No smile.
"Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and kids."
"Yeah, I guess." Bob seemed uncertain. Good.
"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."
Ouch. This was not going in the right direction. Time to
change tactics.
"What'd you clock me at?"
"Seventy-one. Would you 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 with every ticket.
"Please, Jack, in the car."
Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open 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.
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 car without a word. Jack watched his retreat in
the mirror, bottom teeth scratching his upper lip. When Bob vanished
inside his car, jack unfolded the sheet of paper.
How much was this one going to cost?
Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of joke? Certainly not a ticket. Jack began to read:
Dear Jack,
Once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when killed by a car.
You guessed it-a speeding driver. 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. My son is all I have left.
Bob Jack shifted uncomfortably in his trench coat. Then he twisted 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, too, pulled away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and hugging a surprised wife and kids when he arrived.
well.....i dont know if this is true or not... but i do know that this story could be true in any city today. This is a struggle for me and i am going to try to do something about it. What kind of example are we as christians being when we are speeding on our way to church........ to the store...... to work and whatever... and even some of us have the bumper stickers and such.......so that even advertises our weakness as christians. Just keep this in mind next time you are flyin down the road. God bless you and Be safe,
Mike