Grace

 

Yesterday I got pulled over by the cops!  Well, it was just one police officer.  But it was exciting because when I noticed the whirling lights behind me, I assumed he was trying to get around me so I pulled over and sped up a bit.  For about 5 seconds it was a high speed chase.

Eventually I pulled into a parking lot and he pulled in behind.  

The officer could not have been kinder.  He told me I was driving 15 miles over the speed limit and then went on to explain that the speed limit went down several blocks behind where we were on the street. 

I told him I knew that because "I live right there" pointing to the brick wall in front of us.  He very kindly asked for my driver's license, then disappeared back into his cruiser.  When he returned he handed back the license and told me to have a good day.  

No ticket!  But here's the thing:  I broke the law.  I was speeding.  He knew that but still let me go. 

As you know, my Meniere's Disease causes panic attacks from time to time. So how was I feeling thoughout this whole process, from the whirling lights to the "Have a good day?"  

I felt great.  I felt grateful.  After checking to see if I had a record, the officer congratulated me for my pristine driving history.  At that point I did have to confess that I had received a speeding ticket in the past - precisely - in 1972.  

Since I was speeding yesterday I totally broke the law, but, by the grace of this young, kind, African American police officer, I was not charged.  

The only thing that could have riled me up would have been if he let me go because I was just a little old lady driving a Camry.  In that case I would have had to demand that I get the ticket and things would have gotten all weird.  

But I wasn't getting that vibe.  He gave me Grace.

***

The Butterfly Effect

 

(In Chaos Theory)  the phenomenon whereby a minute localized change in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere. 

Or, as Jeff Goldblum described it in Jurassic Park, A Butterfly can flap its wings in Peking and in Central Park you get rain instead of sunshine.

Yesterday I received a nice note from Tim Richardson, a man I haven't seen in almost 40 years.  He said, I thought  of you and the effect you had on me when you spoke to the FSC Student Government retreat in 1983!!! 

In the note he sent a link to a video on the Butterfly Effect, emphasizing how our words can change the course of history.  

So what did I say to Tim and the others in 1983?  I have no idea.  But it got me to thinking about how powerful our words are.  Many people in my life have changed the course of MY history. 

Tim is a successful speaker/trainer/consultant.  That was my title as well for a few decades.  He closed his note with this question:  Who had the biggest impact on you and your desire to help others? 

That's a tough question.  I've been thinking about it the last 24 hours.  If I would try to make a list, it would be vast, because  I've been blessed over the span of a long life to hang out with some exceptional humans.  Some of them are family members.  Two of the were my husbands. One of them I'm having breakfast with tomorrow.  

She is a prime example of "The Butterfly Effect."

***