speeding ticket – 11:3 Restoration

Let me tell you how AWESOME my King is!!!…

About four weeks ago, on a fine Friday morning, I pulled out of my drive while listening to James Block’s Restoration (Psalm 80) and singing at the top of my lungs. Not paying attention and for no particular reason, I crested a hill less than a mile from home doing about 71 in a 55 and I got busted! Immediately, I raised my hand and thanked the Father saying, “I don’t know what You are up to, but thank you.” And, I stopped as quickly and safely as possible, was totally compliant and utterly disappointed in the $185 – 4 point ticket I was blessed with.

It could not possibly have happened at a worse time! Seriously! The day before, my job had submitted paperwork for me to go to school in late July with the SC DMV to be certified as a third party CDL tester. Four points does more than jeopardize me as a CDL trainer/tester. It ends my job!! I asked for prayer, informed my supervisor and dreaded my day in court.

This morning was the day and I went prepared to plead guilty, ask for the points to be dropped and offer to pay the full fine.

Let me tell you what happened… Continue reading “Let me tell you how AWESOME my King is!!!…”

The Speeder. A Short Story.

Joseph should have seen it coming. In fact, his surprise at the heavy penalty levied by the Judge only served to anger the Judge.

The judge had not issued a warning, or a fine. No, this was far worse. He had basically thrown Joseph under the jail. And for what? Speeding?

As he sat behind bars beginning his long sentence, he pondered the situation. He had lost his license, lost his freedom, lost his insurance, and because he couldn’t work, might even lose his house. All because he was doing 52 in a 35 mph zone. It seemed a bit steep, as traffic violations go. He was only 17 over! No big deal!

The problem, the Prosecutor had reminded the Judge, was that this was Joseph’s umpteenth time in front of the court for the same basic offenses. As the Prosecutor had shuffled through a pile of paper, he had recounted more than eleven court appearances just in the last year, with a couple dozen in the previous five years. Continue reading “The Speeder. A Short Story.”

Ignorance of the Law is no excuse….

‘Ignorance of the law is no excuse’ is a common cliche.

About eight months ago now, we moved to our current location. As I drove into a nearby one-light town, I was ‘welcomed’ by one of the friendly uniformed tour guides. After he asked for my license and registration, he informed me I was doing 55 in a 35!!

YOWZA!

I rapidly explained that I was new to the area and had not seen the sign, which he pointed out a couple hundred yards back up the road… (He was camped out at that little spot, so apparently this had something to do with supporting the local municipality.) He was gracious enough to give me a warning, but I knew, if that sign said what he said it said (it did, I checked…), then I was absolutely in the wrong. My ignorance was no excuse.

Did you know that in Torah there is a provision that says, ‘Ignorance of the Law is no excuse?’ Continue reading “Ignorance of the Law is no excuse….”