Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Breaking the Rules (08/16/04)
TITLE: RIDING THE ROADS IN ITALY By Theresa Knight 08/22/04 |
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One morning my friend Rose and I decided to go to the Navy Exchange in Naples. After making our plans over the phone, Rose arrived about twenty minutes later. Off we went in my car, a 1982 dark blue Firebird. Anyone who knows me can imagine that I had no problem obeying the speed limit signs of 80 and 100. However, those signs mean 80 and 100 kilometers, not miles per hour.
It was October, and the sky was a crisp clear gorgeous blue. The Sun’s unusual amber color reflected beautifully on the mountains. Rose and I were going down the auto strata, (a main four lane highway) talking and admiring this scenery when all of the sudden we saw a Caribineri, (an Italian highway patrolman), standing on the side of the road. He had his sign, (a hand held stick shaped like a lollypop), held up for me to stop! However, I was not able to stop as quickly as I wanted, and passed the officer. Automatically I thought that I was in trouble!
There was no car behind me, so I backed up to find out what he wanted. Luckily, he only wanted to know if I had a tag for the front of my car, and I did. In Italy, each car is to have a front and back tag displayed. However, my Firebird did not have a place for a front tag, nor did I have it displayed in the windshield. When I showed the Caribineri the tag, he smiled, and let Rose and I go about our business.
This event makes me think about God and breaking His rules. What does He do when I disobey Him? Yes, He lets me know, and I ask forgiveness! I am a child of His, and I don’t have to worry about breaking His rules. I’m not perfect. He took care of my sins when He died on the cross. However, that does not make me free to sin whenever I want! True repentance is not just asking forgiveness, but also making a complete turn around.
I can picture Him when I ask forgiveness. He smiles and says, “ Your sins are forgiven, go an sin no more.” That is a wonderful feeling!