God is... |
I pulled over to the curb to let the speeding police car go
by as I was on my way to the dog park with my yellow lab Ben. But instead of
whizzing on by, the flashing lights pulled up behind me. Truly puzzled I asked the officer,
“What’s the problem?” He told me
my license plates are expired. I
told him that can’t be because I always take care of that kind of thing as soon
as I get the notice. To which he
responded sarcastically, “I wouldn’t be pulling you over if I hadn’t verified
with Madison that your plates are indeed expired.”
As I waited in the car for the officer to return with my
citation I remembered a note I wrote to myself after a previous unpleasant
experience. My note said, “Getting
upset is so unproductive.” I don’t
always remember that wise conclusion, but bumping into the law the other day
actually became a blessing for it caused me to pause and reflect on the fact
that I have been too narrowly focused of late. Loosing my vehicle registration form in a mess of papers was
the proof along with other things I have let slide.
Lately I have been bent on finishing David Sloan Wilson’s
book “The Neighborhood Project – Using Evolution to Improve My City One Block at a Time.” After I found my
registration form and wrote the check, I picked up the phone and called the
library to extend the due date on Wilson’s book. It was so easy to do and relieved me of much unnecessary
stress. It makes me wonder how
much else I could let go of, or extend till a later date. Ironically the siren and flashing
lights verified what I am reading.
Life is a pinball machine and how I react to what I bump into determines
my progress or decline. The ability
to reflect on my experiences is the vital spark that transforms, and being
flexible in how I respond determines my success or failure. And ultimately I see I am still in
process—learning to trust more and remembering that all good things can and do
take time.
Thank God for Ben for he always makes sure I get out
EVERYDAY. Which reminds me we are
way overdue for a good long off leash trek somewhere.
What if we could always stop and reflect when bumping into
unpleasantness?
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