Perspective
I tweeted about my $161 traffic ticket yesterday. But there was more than that to it. Here's the more:
I knew I was speeding. I knew I was guilty. The unmarked car was a fancy one (probably a state vehicle) so when I saw it pull out and follow me, I knew I was done.
I rolled down my window and immediately said I was sorry, remembering that confession, although good, does not excuse me from consequence. I still had to pay. I handed over my registration and insurance card and waited. Guess who appeared?
An Asian looking man walking toward me on the highway! My window was rolled down so when he walked past I asked him if he was going to UCONN. He said yes. I asked if he wanted a ride. He asked how long it would take. I looked back at the policeman writing up my ticket and said...probably about 5 minutes. He smiled and climbed into my stinky van which usually smells like rotten vegetables or dead animals at any given moment.
We chatted and the officer came back with my "reduced fee" ticket since I had such a good driving record. The Asian man started asking him questions about driver's licenses and international driving. The police man looked at me, confused. I told him I'd take care of it.
As we drove away, I learned that I had picked up a Visiting Scholar. His wife was here: she didn't know a lot of English. And his daughter was at a university in NYC on a full scholarship. He had just gotten here 4 days ago and wanted to be dropped off at the AT&T store so he could get in line with all the other internationals who were waiting in a long line to get their new IPHONE!
We exchanged business cards. We had a conversation. It was typical conversation to be had with a new international (only some of you will know what that means!...like ISI people and the like). As I drove away, I had a thought about Someone.
The price of that connection was $161. But the Someone I am thinking of paid much more to ransom and redeem my soul. As I found myself moved to tears over such a thought, I was thankful for the ticket and a chance to meet a new soul who could possibly change the world.
Eternal purposes made of mundane, daily life things. Ah, that's what He does.
