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~~~~~~~ WITandWISDOM™ - April 13, 1999 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences. (James Rhinehart) ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone. The flashing red in his rearview mirror insisted he pull over quickly, but Jack let the car coast. Fourth time in as many months. How could a guy get caught so often? When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour, Jack pulled over, but only partially. Let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard. Maybe some other car will tweak his backside with a mirror. He slumped into his seat, the collar of his trench coat covering his ears. He tapped the steering wheel, doing his best to look bored, his eyes on the mirror. The cop was stepping out of his car, the big pad in hand. Bob? Bob from church? Jack sunk farther into his trench coat. This was worse than the coming ticket. A Christian cop catching a guy from his own church. A guy who happened to be a little eager to get home after a long day at the office. A guy he was about to play golf with tomorrow. Jack was tempted to leave the window shut long enough to gain the psychological edge but decided on a different tack. Jumping out of the car, he approached a man he saw every Sunday, a man he'd never seen in uniform. "Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this." "Hello, Jack." No smile. "Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and kids." "Yeah, I guess." Bob seemed uncertain. Good. "I've seen some long days at the office lately. I'm afraid I bent the rules a bit - just this once." Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement. "Diane said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight. Know what I mean?" "I know what you mean. I also know that you have a reputation in our precinct." Ouch. This was not going in the right direction. Time to change tactics. "What did you clock me at?" "Seventy-one. Would you sit back in your car, please?" "Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as soon as I saw you. I was barely nudging 65." The lie seemed to come easier with every ticket. "Please, Jack, in the car." Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door. Slamming it shut, he stared at the dashboard. He was in no rush to open the window. The minutes ticked by. Bob scribbled away on the pad. Why hadn't he asked for a driver's license? Whatever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat near this cop again. A tap on the door jerked his head to the left. There was Bob, a folded paper in hand. Jack rolled down the window a mere two inches, just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip. "Thanks." Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice. Bob returned to his car without a word. Jack watched his retreat in the mirror, bottom teeth scratching his upper lip. When Bob vanished inside his car, jack unfolded the sheet of paper. How much was this one going to cost? Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of joke? Certainly not a ticket. Jack began to read: Dear Jack, Once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when killed by a car. You guessed it - a speeding driver. A fine and three months in jail, and the man was free. Free to hug his daughters. All three of them. I only had one, and I'm going to have to wait until heaven before I can ever hug her again. A thousand times I've tried to forgive that man. A thousand times I thought I had, Maybe I did, but I need to do it again. Even now. Pray for me. And be careful. My son is all I have left. Bob Jack shifted uncomfortably in his trench coat. Then he twisted around in time to see Bob's car pull away and head down the road. Jack watched until it disappeared. A full 15 minutes later, he, too, pulled away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and hugging a surprised wife and kids when he arrived. By MANFRED KOEHLER (Shane Kirkpatrick) ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A GRANDMOTHER. . . (Written by 3rd graders) She let's you put your vegetables back in the pot if you don't want to eat them. She let's you have the toys that your mother really didn't want you to have. A Grandmother is one who comes to football games and cheers when she doesn't know what is happening. My Grandmother gives me candy and money, my other Grandmother is just the same, only she gives me meatballs and ice cream. A Grandmother always thinks that you are going to get hurt playing football. A Grandmother says she has a very good memory, but she can't remember her age. Usually a Grandmother is fat, but not too fat to tie your shoes, they wear glasses and funny underwear. They can take their teeth and gums off. Grandmothers don't have to be smart, only answer questions like, "Why isn't God married?" and "How come dogs chase cats?" Everybody should have a Grandmother, especially if you don't have a television, because they are the only grown-ups who have time. (Paul Benoit via HUMOR DIGEST http://b62968.cwru.edu/) ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: An insurance salesman was trying to persuade a housewife that she should take out life insurance. "Suppose your husband were to die," he said, "What would you get?" The housewife thought for a while, and then said, "Oh, probably a parrot, I think. Then the house wouldn't seem so quiet." (E-zine: BILL'S PUNCH LINE http://www.tcmr.com/billspunchline.html) ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: In attempting to recruit John Sculley, the 38-year-old President of Pepsi-Cola, Steve Jobs, Founder of Apple Computer, issued a tremendous challenge. He asked: "Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world?" - John Sculley, Odyssey (E-zine: TIDBITS DAILY DEVOTIONAL http://members.aol.com/champ7/Tidbits.htm) |