I was stupid. I wasn’t paying attention. I was distracted. My mind was not on everything around me.
It was a beautiful day. Sun shining. Puffy clouds sailing the skies. 460 was wide open (the state highway I traverse regularly.) BUT … there was a police car dealing with another car on the shoulder. I should’ve pulled over to the far lane. I always pull over when a vehicle is on the shoulder. Always. Well, not this time.
I was stupid. I wasn’t paying attention. I was distracted. My mind was not on everything around me.
The policeman got into his car and tracked me down – not hard since I am in an huge Voodoo Blue 2008 FJ Cruiser in a small county of 13,000. And then, there I was, on the side of the road, getting my ticket. I tried the pity card. I claimed stupidity. But nothing worked. So off to court I go.
I was stupid. I wasn’t paying attention. I was distracted. My mind was not on everything around me.
In court, I waited my turn. It was about 90 minutes in and he called my name … the judge, the one with power to throw me in jail. Yes, this infraction could be punished with such a sentence. He called my name. He looked over the paper work. He talked to the officer. He asked me … and I said …
I was stupid. I wasn’t paying attention. I was distracted. My mind was not on everything around me.
Maybe honesty would help, be refreshing for him. Nope. He wasn’t having it.
He gave me 3 months to do a defensive driving course and have the sentence reduced to a non-point infraction … Faulty Mechanics. Great, I can blame my mechanic. No, that would be stupid too – after all, I will still need a mechanic when all of this is over.
I paid my fine. Paid the court cost.
Oh, two church members were watching me – the court clerk knew me (ouch) and the county clerk took my money (ouch again). At least they smiled. For they knew something …
I was stupid. I wasn’t paying attention. I was distracted. My mind was not on everything around me.
So I sit at my desk, in the quiet afternoon with no one min the office but me. I take the online course. And in the end, it will be as if the infraction never happened. But it did. A course may reduce the penalty, but the dumb act never leaves my mind.
Thank the Lord when He takes away our sin, He too never accounts the penalty to us repeatedly. And He reminds me it is forgiven. Consider the past gone, forgotten, rubbish. And press forward.
I take the course, I learn my lesson, and I move on. Not a bad plan. God, help me learn my lesson, help me move on.
Help me … not be stupid.
Muddy Shoes by Todd 
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