God's Sense of Humor & Lessons Learned

I've gone 6 years, 1 month, and 27 days without ever being pulled over by a police officer for any reason. However, it was completing that 28th day that proved to be a blemish on my driving record.

My first speeding ticket. I had always wondered what it would be like to be behind the wheel of a car when I see the flashing lights in my rearview mirror. Now I know. Its that feeling deep in your stomach that you know you did something wrong, you got caught for it, and nothing you can do will change it from happening.

I was on my way to Orange City with a few friends to watch a movie. Running slightly behind schedule, we were in a little bit of hurry. Headed south into Orange City with the cruise control set at 70 mph (15 mph over the speed limit) we were making good time. However, after cresting a hill my cruise control allowed the car to accelerate to 73 mph. Just so happens that there was a Sioux County Sherrif on a gravel road with his radar gun waiting for someone like me. After coming into town I noticed headlights behind me that I hadn't noticed earlier. A little flag went off in my head wondering if my streak of ticket free driving was over. I wondered if it was the Smokey finally catching his Bandit red-handed, or in this case, lead-footed.

At the stop sign in town, I looked in my rearview mirror again, and what did I see? Yep, red and blue flashing lights from the top of a county sherrif patrol car. As my grandpa would say, "Cowpie." I turned down a side street to await the agonizing approach by the sherrif.

The usual small talk ensued.

"In a hurry to get somewhere?"

"Yeah, we're going to a movie."

"Do you know how fast you were going?"

"Yeah, I had my cruise set at 70 mph."

"Do you know what the speed limit is on our country roads?"

"55 mph."

"I had you clocked at 73 mph 3 miles north of town. May I see your license and certificate of insurance please?"

Most of you know what happens at this point. The sherrif walks back to his car, writes me a ticket while I sit in my car regretting every move I made since I left Sioux Center.

Sherrif whatever-his-name-is comes back with a ticket explaining that he is writing me up for 10 mph over the speed limit. I really don't want to talk back because he could have written the ticket for 18 mph over.

Most of you would find this whole ordeal rather funny, especially if I've ever boasted of my clean record to you. But this is where it gets even better.

On my way back from Sioux Falls on Friday night after a double date, I was explaining and bragging to Jeff and Samantha (my date, Hannah, lives and stayed in Sioux Falls) that I had never been pulled over for anything. I've never been one to believe in bad luck. I didn't buy into it. Well, I still don't believe in any kind of luck. But I do believe that God's like to teach lessons in strange ways that make us learn lessons for good. Something we will never forget. Well, He certainly did exactly that to me.

My lesson on Saturday night cost me $61.40, plus increased insurance costs, plus the cost of a stamp to mail the ticket in. Expensive lesson, but definately a lesson that will not be soon forgotten.