Lesson Learned

If you know anything about me, you know that I’m a speedster.  Driving in general is one of the most confident activities I ever do.  I have been driving long before getting a license – and the faster, the better.  Now don’t get me wrong, I know my limits; I’ll push the speed limit just enough to keep me under the reckless driving radar, yet fast enough to get me through the traffic.  I am not a fan of following other drivers.

But Friday was different.  God had a lesson to teach me…or should I say re-teach me.

I got a call from my Mom saying she was on her way into town and was going to be staying with my wife and I.  But we were going to grab dinner just outside of town before heading to the house.  I was excited, to say the least.  So I proceeded to take my usual route home and hit the main highway toward the house.  It is not unlike me to travel around 70 mph on this road.  Which is about the typical speed of traffic on any given day at that time of the evening.  Traffic wasn’t very heavy, so I was confident I could get up the road fairly easily.

As I traveled along, a white Ford Explorer stayed pretty close to me.  I moved from the fast lane to the right lane in order to go around it.  She then fell in behind me.  It wasn’t long before she jumped back over into the fast lane to go around me only to stay almost right beside me at the same speed.  After maybe a half a mile she fell back in behind me.  Then the unthinkable happened…..blue lights began flashing.  I was devastated and surprised.  I looked this vehicle over pretty carefully and there was nothing to indicate that it was a police vehicle.

Nonetheless, she pulled me over and walked over to my passenger side.  She then asked the usual question; “Is there any reason why you were driving that fast?”  I giggled politely and told her that I had no good reason for going that fast.  Only that I was headed to have dinner with my Mom.  She then tells me that she blew her siren at one point and I never heard it.  I completely blame my car because I don’t have a radio.  Therefore, I use my phone and ear buds and listen to Spotify.  Of course, I am fully aware that this is illegal and I let her know that I knew it was.  I was completely honest with her and admitted my guilt.  I even made her aware that I was wearing my 9mm pistol but I did have a concealed carry permit…..just in case things went south.  But I smiled and she was very nice.

By the mercy of God, she let me off – no citation and a polite, yet stern, warning to slow it down and take the ear buds out.

Did you notice I said by the “mercy” of God and not by the grace of God?  There is reason for that.  Grace is receiving something we didn’t earn and don’t deserve.  Mercy is not being given something we do deserve – like those tickets I definitely should have gotten.  I deserved them and she had every right to write me up.  But she didn’t – she showed me mercy.

Isn’t that just like God?  How often do we sin or disobey Him?  Yet, in His great mercy He shows us unconditional love, picks us up, tells us to slow down, listen to Him and let’s us go on our way.  It’s a reminder I needed.  And it was such a great reminder for me of His love.  He has been working on me so much to help me with this horrible attitude I have acquired.  In this situation, I usually would have been very irritable and not polite at all.  If God had not been dealing with me on this issue, this officer would have definitely written me up simply based on my attitude.  Instead, I was honest and polite with her and she handed me far more mercy than I deserved.

God wanted to show me just how much He has been working on me.  I believe it was a test to show just how much He has helped me and whether or not I would revert back to my old ways.  I am thankful I passed that test.  And more than that, I am thankful there is a reversal in my attitude.  My God is so good!  He will not leave us alone until He makes us into who He has created us to be.  Not to mention, He will also show us our progress.

Needless to say – lesson learned.  I’m going to keep my foot off of the pedal a little more and keep my attitude in check.  It’s a sign I’m maturing and He is still working on me.