ONE WISE MAN

Many years ago two of our daughters, Tracy and Autumn who were sharing an apartment in Baltimore, were driving together to go shopping. Autumn was driving Tracy’s car when they were stopped by a Maryland State Policeman. He pulled them over because the windows on Tracy’s car were too darkly tinted. [A father’s disclaimer: she purchased the car used and they were already so tinted.]

When the Officer approached the car and Autumn rolled down her window, both she and Tracy were at a loss for why they had been pulled over. Since Autumn knew she was not speeding or driving errantly, she asked the Officer what she had done wrong. He explained to her that the tint on the windows was too dark according to Maryland Law and he would have to cite her.

Before Autumn said anything to the officer, she turned to Tracy and said, I’m not paying this fine, you are. It’s your car.” Tracy replied, “Oh yes you are. Remember when we lived in Spokane and you used my library card and got a large fine and I had to pay it? Well, you’re going to pay this fine.” “No, I am not,” replied Autumn.

The Officer standing by the window heard this conversation, bent over, looked inside the car at Tracy and Autumn and said, “Have a nice day, ladies,” and walked back to his car, got in and drove away. No ticket issued. Wise man; one wise man. Or as Kenny Rogers sings in “The Gambler”: “You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, know when to run.”

Sometimes we don’t. That particular officer did. Discretion is often the better part of valor. Sometimes even being in the right is not worth the effort of pointing out or even enforcing what is right. No use trying to get into the middle of an argument between two sisters on a hot summer day. There are always better fish to fry, as they say, better tickets to issue and enforce.

Again, there are times in our lives when we simply need to back off even when we are in the right. The policeman at least had warned Tracy. If she did not do something about her tinted windows and soon, there would be another officer who would pull her over and who would not be so forgiving this time around.

It is not always easy to know when to throw in your hand and wait for another and hopefully better deal or to take your chance that you will prevail with the cards you are holding. Would that we could always know when it is the best time to say or to do something that needs to be said or done. But we don’t, not always. Sometimes we speak too soon or jump into the fray too late. Even saying a sincere and heart-felt prayer is no guarantee that we will make the right decision.

In Tracy’s and Autumn’s case, the Officer probably did make the right and wise decision. He even had a funny story to tell his fellow officers. Yet, he may have made an unwise decision the next time several miles down the Interstate. Such is life – his and ours.