one of THOSE days...

It started at 2:45am. I'm no stranger to this time of night, we see each other on a regular basis. Not in this instance. Driving around Charlottesville looking for somewhere to park, legally that is.

Following me through a green light at an intersection is a cop. No big deal, just making rounds and patrolling. He flashes his lights, I pull over. "Do you know why I pulled you over?" I honestly think he pulled me over because I was driving so slow thinking about where and looking for parking. "No, sir." What he says next I'm not even sure if I heard correctly and still confused about. Not stopping at the intersection? Wasn't the light green? Didn't you follow me through the green light too????? Not going to contest it, I'm tired and frustrated at this parking situation.

"I'm letting you off with a warning." "Thank you sir, have a good night! Oh, one question. Do you know where I can park, I don't have a permit pass?" I've checked everywhere by this point. I've spent the last hour trying to find an open garage or places where I won't get towed since I didn't have one.

"You can park on Lewis Mountain Road." You can't park there. They have HUGE signs that say "PERMITS ONLY". "Thank you!" Not really. I make my rounds one more time. No such luck, of course. I'm tired, I park in Lambeth and walk back home. It's 3am but it's not too far, just a ways up.

4:15pm, I make my way back to Lambeth. Please be no ticket, please be no ticket. Too much of that wishful thinking, because I see orange and white under a windshield wiper. Fine=$0, it's a warning ticket.

7:30pm, I had parked behind Clark because there still has been no parking at "IHOP". This is really irritating. It's raining and I come to another intersection. It appears I've gone out too far into street, so I put my car in reverse. BOOM! I still have whiplash even as I type this. I ask, "Sir, are you ok?" "I'm fine, it's nothing really." "Alright then, thanks and have a good night!"

Three instances where stuff could have possibly been a lot worse. Nope, God had my back. I was shown grace again and again. From this, I realize again and again that in moments of despair we need not run from Him but towards Him. He is FOREVER good and gracious. My neck doesn't hurt as much now.