I got a speeding ticket on my way to the airport today. It’ll be a $120 fine and two points on my record. It’s my third speeding ticket. In 35 years of driving. With over 500,000 miles under my belt (seatbelt). Some would say that I was overdue. No matter. My pulse still quickened and I felt that sinking dread in my gut when I saw the motorcycle policeman in my rear view mirror with his flashing lights.
I think I was more angry at myself than anything. Angry because this speeding ticket occurred under the same circumstances as the other two: I wasn’t driving consciously.
I wasn’t late. There was no need to hurry. There were no other cars in the area, so I wasn’t endangering others. I just wasn’t paying attention to the speedometer. Isn’t that how most of the “wake up calls” show up in our lives? Out of the blue? From not paying attention?
The fact is, if we don’t discipline ourselves, someone or something else will.
We can be disciplined by our circumstances, our spouse, our staff, the economy, our lack of patience, our pride; the list is endless. It’s their lack of health that usually disciplines patients. If they’ve neglected or abused their bodies long enough, they’ll be “pulled over” and disciplined. That’s why they begrudgingly show up in your office. They’re rarely delighted by the prospect of having to pay the price for their inattention. Will you let them simply mail in a check or send them to traffic school?