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. He 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 had 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 payment. “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. Tim 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. He 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 and prayer.
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Remember the Banana!
One fellow wrote, remember the banana, when it left the bunch, it got skinned.”
The banana is not the only thing in nature that teaches us the value of belonging. All around us are illustrations – some obvious, others not so obvious – that God created life to be nurtured in an environment of togetherness. For example, scientists have discovered that when the roots of tress contact one another, a substance is released which encourages the growth of a fungus. This fungus becomes a like between the roots of different trees – even different kinds of trees! If one tree has access to water, it is shared with the other trees. If one set of roots is in soil packed with nutrients, those nutrients will soon be passed to the other trees. Thus, the tree shares with one another, providing for the survival of them all. Our society tends to isolate people. Many work in environments where interpersonal relationships rarely have the opportunity to develop. We can walk through a mall crowded with hundreds of people – an all of them are strangers. No wonder so many people struggle with feelings of boredom and loneliness!
The church can provide a place where boredom and loneliness are conquered. It is the soil in which we can sink our roots and touch one another in meaningful relationships. We have the opportunity to give and receive – to nurture and be nurtured. This is the value of belonging. Is there a place for you? YES! Is there an advantage to regular church attendance? ABSOLUTELY!
Remember the banana – BE A PART OF THE BUNCH!!!
