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 his."

 "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 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 way 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.
  Funny how you can send a thousand 'jokes' through e-mail
  and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending
  messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about
 sharing. 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.