Speeding Ticket


Yesterday I learned that my son Max recently got a speeding ticket.  One hundred and sixty-five dollars (and no points) later, he’s back on the road.  It’s a hit to his wallet - but little else.

In my mind a speeding ticket is a low consequence warning that you’re going too fast.  A speeding ticket saves you the pain of a high speed accident, one that could potentially total your car - or worse, kill you or someone else.  A speeding ticket causes you to slow down, to pay a little more attention, to be a little more thoughtful…

Maybe we should get speeding tickets in life!

So many times I find myself rushing from one task to the next, from one event to the next, from one THING to the next…but what if I slowed down a little?

Today is Sunday and the Bible tells us that this should be a day of rest - "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God." - Exodus 2:8-10 

You may be saying, "but Susan, if I take today and rest - the things I need to get done won't be completed..." - and if you are, I'd suggest you check yourself, because that statement shows a great deal of pride and assumes God has no part in your success.

Maybe if you slowed down today, you'd be able to connect with Him on a level you have not experienced in a while - or maybe ever.  Maybe you'd be able to see Him in the people you met, in the glory of nature, or in the quiet moments.  Maybe the rest will allow you to recharge so that you are more productive when you get back to work. Jeremiah 31:25 says, "For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish."

And finally - maybe -- just like a traffic ticket, a little slow down will keep you from something worse:  a stress-induced heart attack, crippling anxiety, or heartburn.

My son didn't like his traffic ticket - but I think it was JUST what he needed.


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