Life Is Precious
Handle With Care
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 anxious 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 bare 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 twisted 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.
Unknown
Learn To Love Yourself
Let go of the "shoulds" in your life.
Open up to the miracle of now.
Value your uniqueness.
Explore your dreams and passions.
Yield to life - go with the flow.
Obey the voice of your Spirit.
Unwind - get cozy and comfy.
Renew yourself - body and soul.
Surround yourself with caring people.
Express yourself - be true to you.
Linger longer at what you enjoy.
Feel God's special love for you.
Unknown
