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From my inbox...
Read This Slowly
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, 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. Would you sit back in your car
please?"
"Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as soon as 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 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?
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, 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
too,
pulled
away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and hugging a
surprised
wife and kids when he arrived.
Life is precious. Handle with care. This is an important message;
please
pass it along to your friends. Drive safely and carefully. Remember,
cars
are
not the only things recalled by their maker.
May today there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are
exactly
where you are meant to be. "I believe that friends are quiet angels
who
lift
us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to
fly."
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