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 Christian 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-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. 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 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 prayer.
Our Kids are the most
important part of all of our lives, please think before
you drive.
Its not just your life out there on the road, its our
kids too !!!!
Author
Deputy David Striegel,
Linn County, Kansas
|
