SPEED LIMITS
Tommy Deal
What is it about posted speed limits that bother
people? Or, better yet, why do folks
feel they do not apply to them, that they are merely a suggestion? And, why are they so apologetic when they get
caught and get a “Blue Light Special?”
Now, I must confess that I may sometimes find that I have
worn my heavy shoes some days.
Particularly when I get out on the interstate and mere survival requires
that I keep up with the flow.
But regularly neighbors in my neighborhood could care less
the posted speed limit is 35 mph. (Disclaimer: I do not live within the city
limits of our great city of Dalton!) I pull out of
my driveway with no cars within a quarter of a mile from my driveway; I
accelerate to the posted speed and from out of nowhere a neighbor is running
late to drop the kids off at school or get to the office and suddenly I become
the bad guy. At least I must be the bad
guy as evidenced by the friendly gestures and mouthed words sent my way.
I applaud all the efforts our officers give to make us safe,
including stopping some who apparently received their driver’s training from
NASCAR. It seems that when they are
presented their “certificate of recognition” they are not so much repentant for
their breaking the laws as they are that they got caught.
Speed Limits are posted for our safety and good. Laws are written to give guidance to an order
with which we should live. Those who
enforce the laws are instruments of maintaining a safe society for
everyone.
There are laws of science and nature. For the most part these are givens within our
world which provide the order with which we live. Breaking any of these laws, too, have
consequences. Fall off a ladder and one
will soon find that two laws of nature were broken, and now perhaps they are,
too.
God, too, has given us laws.
These were not given to limit us or to break us. They were given in hopes that those who
follow them will find God’s original plan of love and grace. Unfortunately, we each think that “a little
over the limit” won’t really matter…unless we get caught.
The prophet Micah wrote, “He has shown you, O mortal, what
is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Jesus, the Christ when quizzed about the greatest
commandment (or law) said, “Love
the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your strength and
with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Yes, there is other guidance Holy Scripture gives us and we
should live as it instructs. But I would
surmise that if more of us would just follow these two, this world we live in
would be a much better place. (And, perhaps we wouldn’t be speeding through
life and missing the best parts!)
