Attitude

I heard this story today from a Pastor friend of mine. This happened to a relative of his. Four young black men were riding in a Mercedes Benz when they got pulled over by an officer. I think the young man was pretty proud of his ride. The officer was a really nice guy, he talks to the driver and asks, do you have a license? The young man says yes but as he starts to reach for it the officer says its OK, he doesn't need to see it. He says the reason I pulled you over is you have a stoplight out and I just wanted to let you know.  All the guys were polite and the officer starts back to his car as he hears the driver say, "He just pulled me over because he saw 4 black men in a Mercedes". The officer heard his remark and returned to the car. He told the driver, "we are going to redo this traffic stop". I need to see your license and I want you to come to the back of the car while one of your buddies steps on the brake pedal.  He then runs the driver's information and finds out he has a warrant for an old ticket that he didn't pay. Now I have to take you in. The other riders said they would call someone to come get them. I assume when he said that they were impounding the car. The Driver got a lot of ribbing from his friends for mouthing off. It wasn't a brand new Mercedes but it was a fairly nice older Mercedes. He was just minutes away from a routine traffic stop and going on his way when he mouthed off, about being stopped for being Black in a Mercedes. Officers deserve respect and most of the time they treat people fairly. What was funny was the young man mouthing off when he didn't have a clean driving record and it turned out bad for him in being taken to jail because of an unpaid ticket. From the other three riders, the officer was really nice for the original stop. They really gave the driver a hard time for being so stupid. I recently was given a warning for speeding, I was polite and really expected to get a ticket, I was doing 54 in a 30. Just absent-mindedly driving and not paying attention. The officer was nice and just gave me a warning. I think our attitude towards cops can go a long way in our favor if we just show respect. They are there for our safety and just enforcing the laws we as citizens give them to enforce.  God bless our officers and other first responders.

1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. 2Consequently, the one who resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. 4For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer. Romans 13:1-4 

God bless, LVZ.