I deserved a ticket that night. I was in violation of the law and knew well what those strobing lights behind me meant.

You see, in those days, we were allowed to get our driving permit at age 14. But we could only drive during daylight hours and only with a licensed driver 18 or older beside us. I knew all that but then there was the Glee Club rehearsal for a coming concert.

Dad was working at the service station, Mother was taking college courses and couldn't drive me to school. So I just hopped on my Cushman Eagle motor scooter, picked up a friend and headed for school. I mean...what could go wrong?? We were just going a couple of miles and wouldn't be on any major highways.

'Course the brake light was out and the headlight was dim. But at least we wouldn't let the director down!

We got there safely with no incident. But the trip home was another story altogether.  You see, to be "cool", I had taken the baffles out of the muffler.  It was LOUD!

I'm still not sure which of the obvious safety and noise issues attracted the attention of the highway patrolman.  But there he was right behind me with his lights announcing for the whole community that he was capturing a couple of fleeing lawbreakers!  

I dolefully but dutifully pulled over and waited for the cuffs.

Woe upon woe! The patrolman turned out to be a family friend! His first remark was that he thought I would've known better and that my folks had raised me better than that. He pointed out several violations that should have generated a ticket for me and much revenue for the State. 

But he just wrote me a warning for the violations and gave me what-for for my general lack of wisdom. Amazingly he turned both of us loose with the admonition to "get yourselves home right this minute and don't let me ever catch you out here like this again!"

Ummm....he didn't have to repeat himself! I got the message!

You know; I learned something very valuable that dark night under the flashing lights of the Police Cruiser. It was a lesson in Grace. I really did deserve an expensive ticket but was given mercy. Kinda like at Calvary. We all really do deserve Hell but God offers Heaven. What Grace! What Mercy!

Will you accept God's Grace?

Lovingly,