Not forwardlook related, I know, but as the holiday visiting season
approaches, I thought this is appropriate. Before anyone gets angry, just
read the whole thing.
Mark mjh
>FOR ALL OF US IN A HURRY . . . .
>
>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.
>
>"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 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 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, 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.
>
>This is an important message, please pass it along to your friends. Drive
>safely and carefully.
>
>**so why do We try to shave a couple of minutes (at the most) off our time
>of arrival at such great risk?-
>
>
>
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