Let’s just cut to the chase. You read that title correctly: I did, indeed, get a speeding ticket two Mondays ago. It’s suuuuuuper unfortunate, but sometimes you’re just that unlucky human who gets caught speeding (cause let’s be real, almost everyone does it). It still sucks, yes. BUT God has already taught me quite a bit through this experience. So with that, I give you my Life Lessons From a Speeding Ticket:
Lesson Number One: Slow. Down.
Probably the most obvious lesson ever from a speeding ticket, but still worth noting.
If you know me, you know I tend to be a person who likes constant motion – high energy, quick-thinking, adventurous, slightly scattered. I’m a classic northeasterner who thrives off of a fast-paced life. Interestingly enough, however, cops aren’t really down with that sort of thing on the road. Shocking. Well, I’ve found that God often isn’t really interested in that either. Yes, He is very much a God of action, but not when it means leaving others behind or passing right by what He’s doing presently. And that takes me to lesson number two…
Lesson Number Two: Enjoy what’s in front of you!
Ironically, I was on my way to Adventures’ Monday Morning Worship, of all things, when I saw the dreaded police lights in my rearview mirror. Corporate worship allows a time and space to take a step back from all the busyness of summer, simply be with God, recognize that He is so much bigger than all the “craziness,” and give it all to Him. Well, shoot. I walked into worship (rather late) that morning with a real need to do all of that. My mind wanted to start making plans and taking action to handle this ticket nonsense right away, but God asked me to slow down – no, stop – and put it in His hands. I was moving a mile-a-minute, not appreciating all that the Lord was doing around me, and when He brought me back to zero, my heart suddenly opened to receive His peace, grace, and joy in that moment.
And there’s so much to stop and appreciate in the every day! Whether it’s enjoying – I mean, really enjoying – the view from a mountainous trail, pausing a song to take in the peace of the lake as I pass over a bridge, taking the time to truly see into the hearts of the people right in front of me, sacrificing my own plan and embracing an opportunity to pray for someone, appreciating the fact that I see deer and other wildlife every day, or whatever else it is in front of me, God is challenging me to engage with what He’s doing in the here and now and see things from His perspective. It’s against my fast-paced nature, but it’s opening my eyes to the beauty that’s literally right in front of me. Gloryyyy!
Lesson Number Three: Take Responsibility.
I can get mad and frustrated and annoyed allllll day long about how that cop was just trying to meet his monthly quota or how I wasn’t going any faster than the cars around me or how that speed limit sign is not nearly obvious enough…but that’s not going to get me anywhere. What will get me somewhere is owning the fact that I did indeed break the law, taking responsibility for my speeding ticket, and embracing the opportunity to learn from this experience.
This extends beyond speeding tickets, though. Am I taking responsibility with my relationships, home, workplace, future? Am I owning my decisions and actions, even when they aren’t the best, wisest, or most loving? If I’m being honest…not all the time.
Saying yes to this process can be pretty dang difficult, humbling, and just plain awkward, but the reality is that we all make mistakes. (Breaking news for all, I know.) But when we truly own our humanness – our brokenness – we allow room for grace to intervene, embrace an opportunity to grow, and make space for God to take over. Giving up the reigns can be difficult, but, trust me, the Creator of the Universe can handle ‘em a lot better than you or I can. 😉
Lesson Number Four: Trust in God’s provision, always.
The other day, I decided it was time to bite the bullet, go online, and check the price of my ticket. Ahhhhhh! I was just planning to see what the grand total was, so I could begin to make a plan of action for how the heck I was going to pay for it. But, as soon as I opened up the website, I felt that nudge from Holy Spirit, saying,
“Pay it right now.”
But God, this literally costs more than my entire month’s stipend!
“Do you trust Me?”
Yes, but this would also effectively empty my savings, too, just FYI…
“Do you trust Me?”
Yes, but can’t I just wait until I scrounge up some money for this..?
“Ronny. Do you trust Me?”
Yes…
And so I paid it. I’m not saying it was the easiest thing ever, just watching my bank account drain to nearly zero (I clearly wrestled with God for a few minutes). But God’s character never changes and His promises are true, so I had to trust that, if He was asking me to pay this ticket, He would provide the money I need for necessities like food and gas.
I think this relates to giving our “firstfruits” to the Lord, something I’ve been challenged in lately. Proverbs 3:9 says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” Now, I’m no farmer, but I think this goes way beyond crops. This is talking about giving the first of our income, whatever that looks like, to the Lord. It’s talking about giving Him the best and first of what we’ve got – not just what we have leftover. It means trusting that the Lord will provide what we need before knowing when, how, or what He’ll provide.
For me, it looks like paying this ticket before getting any other source of income; it looks like giving Him my time and heart in the morning before anything else; it looks like running to Him in times of joy, pain, or confusion before running to other people.
What does it look like for you to give your firstfruits over to the Lord?
So yeah…I got a speeding ticket that drained my bank account. Kinda sucks. But take heart, my friends! Sometimes life throws crappy things at us, and God always has a way of making good out of just these types of situations. Isn’t He great? 🙂
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28
P.S. If you would like to contribute to my gas/food fund for the month of July, I would be so incredibly grateful!!! Just send me an email or Facebook message if you’d like, and we can figure out the best way to make that happen. Any little bit helps me eat and get places! Thanks!!!
