When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. 
A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor. Proverbs 11:2 & 29:23

It’s time to come clean. 

On July1, 2009 at 9:22 AM, I, Steven Robert Benedict received my first speeding ticket after 25 years 332 days of infraction free driving. 40 in a 25, on Lomond Drive, nailed by one of Prince William County’s finest- Officer Heath Oyler as I was late for an appointment. No excuses, I was guilty. 

I should have just paid the money. Do the crime, pay the fine… But no,wait! It says right here on the yellow tickety paper that you can contest your conviction in traffic court. I can go to court and get my record cleared! I can still have a pristine driving record- no points, no nothing, as good as new! THAT is what I’ll do. 

Why am I doing this? I ask myself as I’m sitting in the traffic court on the third floor of the government building on Lee Street. It’s Friday, August 21, my day off. The room is packed. I’ve already seen one ODBC member in the hall- Kerry Kaiser. She’ll probably tell everyone. I could have kept this whole thing quiet if I just paid…. Why am I doing this? 

The answer, I have to confess, is pride. I rather enjoyed being the only pastor on staff who has NEVER had a speeding ticket. It kind of goes along with my squeaky clean, conservative image, don’t you think? Pastor Bob has 7 tickets (that he can remember); Pastor Steve has none. Why even my wife has… (I’d better stop there). Not that I’d ever come out and brag. The facts speak for themselves. Right? 

Am I smug? My thoughts are interrupted by the drone of the bailiff, “All rise for the honorable Steven S. Smith.” 

He looks like a nice man. Sure has a nice first name. Maybe he’ll let me off. What am I going to plea? Can I really say, “Not guilty?” Was I really going 40? That’s what the officer said, but I didn’t see it. Maybe it was 38. 

Judge Smith says they are doing things in alphabetical order. He will handle the guilty pleas first, then come back to the not guilty. 

“If you don’t know what to plea; plea ‘Not guilty.'” he says. There’s my out. I’m going through with this thing. They’re not getting me. 

“Not guilty.” I say, standing when my name is called. 

He’s handling the guilty pleas first. There must be 60 of them. Time drags on. One hour, two. Sentences are handed out- 10 hours community service, suspended license for second offence, third infraction on a suspended license- thirty days. “Bailiff take her away.” Judge Smith pronounces. 

This guy’s hard as nails. I’m going to be lucky to get out of here without doing some hard time. “Mr. Benedict, this will teach you to lie to this court. 10 days in the cooler for you!” I imagine the Judge saying. 

“Mr. Benedict?” Judge Smith inquires. 

I’m in front of the court now making my feeble defense. I was late, I needed gasoline, I was headed to a funeral, I never had a ticket before, I couldn’t have been going 40 because when the officer pulled me over I was in the de-acceleration lane. ” It all sounds weak and laughable after the explanation that LIDAR technology is accurate out to 1500 feet and the radar gun that nabbed me was checked for proper calibration that same morning. 

What’s his record? Judge Steven Smith asks? “Clean record with +5 points.” Officer Oyler replies. 

“Would you accept traffic school and no points, Mr. Benedict? the Judge says gently. 

Chastened, I nod mutely. 

So now I’m taking an online traffic school. $68 bucks for court costs and $47.95 for eight, that’s right, eight hours of online driving school. Each page is timed so you can’t skip through it. I have to take the exam in person at a testing site and then go back to court on October 19th with certificate in hand to get the charges dropped. I should have paid the fine. 

I’m going to die. 

Pride sure does complicate things. 

How about you? Has your pride blinded you? What relationships or circumstances are you enduring or making others endure because your stinking pride keeps you from extending grace, or making it right, or paying the price? 

“With humility comes wisdom” the Proverb says. I get it, Lord. Boy, do I get it.