March 30, 2022
“How are you doing?”
“Better than I deserve.”
The other day Cathi stopped to visit a younger family in the church. While at their home, Cathi got ticketed for parking in the section of their driveway that was considered to be the sidewalk. Of course, they felt terrible and wanted to pay the fine. When Cathi told me what had happened, my internal defense attorney kicked into gear as I began thinking of all the reasons why this was a ridiculous waste of time for the officer, and now a hassle for us. “No good deed goes unpunished.” A friend of mine used to say.
But, the more I thought about it, I had to admit that the officer did not make the laws. He/she is charged with enforcing the laws; and, sidewalks are good things to provide protection for parents and strollers and 7-year-old kids riding bikes who don’t want to compete with cars. In fact, what good are laws if no one enforces them? How many cities are in crisis because police departments do not enforce the laws because the prosecuting attorneys won’t press charges? So, rather than assume the worst about the fundraising motives of the police department, I began to realize that this ticket was all-in-all a good thing. We are a nation of laws; and, if we don’t respect them and enforce them, then the local gang or mafia will be the law. After all, there will always be law.
But, before I paid the ticket, I noticed that there was an appeals process offered. So, I wrote a letter on behalf of Cathi, acknowledging guilt, acknowledging the law, but pleading ignorance and asking for leniency. We figured that it couldn’t hurt. We heard back from the Judge. The $25 fine was reduced to $10. My first reaction was, “that’s fair.” But then I had to correct myself. No, a $25 fine is fair (justice). A $10 fine is mercy. Justice is getting what we deserve. Mercy is not getting what we deserve.
As recipients of God’s mercy through Christ, we should always be surprised at it and grateful for it. That’s good to remember all the time. Because of Christ, we are always way better than we deserve.
Grace and peace,
Bob
Sunday’s Text: 1 Samuel 15:1-4