Speed Trap

On a recent work trip, I realized it was going to be much less expensive and more efficient to drive a significant distance rather than taking several small airplanes between destinations. That was what I thought until midway through my 6-hour drive, I received a plane-size speeding ticket. On a country road with literally no other cars for miles, the sheriff pulled me over and asked me if I was aware of how fast I was going. I didn’t think it would be helpful at that moment to tell him that I had been immersed in an epic power ballad. As he told me my speed, I looked at the GPS and realized it was only 6 mph over the posted limit, which I did choose to politely share with sheriff. "Right here it is. Back there it changed for a quarter mile. There were signs." he clarified while issuing my citation.

With nothing but hours in the car at a much slower speed, I kept thinking about how unfair it was to change the speed limit that quickly. I clearly didn’t see the signs as I was focused on much more important things, like singing. I began to wonder, how often in my leadership do I change the speed limit on the people I serve without proper warning? I recalled more than few times where I pushed people to speed up, only to ask them to come to a complete stop soon after. It’s necessary at times to change pace, but do I do it with people or to people? Thankfully on our journey of faith, the Lord keeps pace with us and most of the speed traps are ones of our own making. Wherever you’re going this week, drive safely!