Sometimes we just forget:
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. 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 dash board. 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 thing recalled by their
maker.
Funny how you can send a thousand
'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start
sending
messages regarding the sanctity of life, people think twice about sharing.
Funny how when you go to forward this message, you will not send it to many on
your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will
think of you for sending it to them. Pass this on - you may save a life.