The Large Print Book

Yesterday was a normal Tuesday for me, except that I seemed to be running late. Heading to Step By Step for a mid afternoon meeting, I was a little on edge about my time, especially since I had to get the donuts for the group, and that is always critical.

I decided to take a book I had mistakenly ordered, the Large Print 12 Steps and 12 Traditions to give away to one of our participants, so I laid it on the drivers seat face up. Coming up Sugarloaf Parkway there was the usual construction with one lane closed ahead. I was getting pretty agitated with all the right laners not paying attention to the signs and trying to cut in front of me, naturally more because of my time constraints. I was growing more agitated by the moment and becoming late.

Finally I turned up a side street leading me to my final destination, and as I was watching many school buses pass I lost track of my speed even though I had gotten a ticket on this road a few years ago. It is actually quite a speed trap, and by the time I remembered that the officer was in front of me waving me over. Now, I am really going to be late.

He asked for my license only, leaned in on my passenger side (when was the last time a cop approached you from that side?), and asked if I knew the speed limit. Yes officer, 35 and 45. He then said I was doing 52 in that 35 zone so now I am thinking no meeting at all, much less donuts.

By the grace of a generous God, he then asked why I was in such a hurry. I said I lost track of my speed because I was running late to a 12 Step meeting at 2 O'Clock. He looked down at his watch, then at that passenger seat, I am sure he saw that mis-ordered Large Print Book, which said 12 Steps and 12 Traditions on it, then said to me, "Okay, you get a free pass today just stop speeding."

I am pretty sure I don't need to recap the lessons in all of this since you are highly intelligent, but I want to add something very important. We never know whether a mistake on our part can be turned into a victory by God, so please never stop believing God can make chicken salad out of chicken soup in any situation.

Oh yes, I gave away that Large Print Book to bless someone else, turns out it saved me more than 10 times what it was worth! ​