Sometimes I identify with Jesse James, you know the gunslinger of the old west. Let me explain.
When I lived in Virginia, every year I dreaded the first week of April. On the first day of April, I would start driving like a criminal. I don’t mean I drive fast or recklessly. I mean I would drive down the street very cautiously and look for hidden policemen around every corner. You see, my inspection sticker expired at the end of March. I had a whole month to get my car inspected, but sometimes I didn’t notice it is expired, sometimes I would forget, and sometimes I was going to do it tomorrow.
So, for several days I would drive like a criminal. Finally, several days into April, I would get a new sticker. It took all of 30 minutes and I got to sit and read while they did it. I always vowed that next year I would be better.
There are a couple of lessons I learned from this experience:
#1. Procrastination never does any good.
I’ve never saved a dime by having an expired sticker, but I have had to take time out of my day, drive to the courthouse, and show the lady behind the window my receipt for my new sticker. Ugh! I would not have had to do this if I had only handled things in a more timely way. Remember, that which you do immediately you actually do!
#2. There is joy in a clear conscience.
Conscience is not our only guide, but your conscience has to be right. Solomon wrote, “The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” (Pro 28:1) A tainted conscience will make you do things that are unhelpful and may be downright hurtful to your journey.
After getting the new inspection sticker, when you pull out of the parking lot with that new sticker all neatly installed it feels really good. It doesn’t feel good to drive like a criminal.
~Lonnie Davis