The Policeman

Today when Jerry was on his way to language school he decided to stop by the post office.  This meant that I had to get out of a taxi and walk for about 20  minutes to the post office.  So, I jumped out of the taxi and made a cardinal mistake - I crossed the road without using the crosswalk.  We have some fairly new laws here in Ethiopia that make jaywalking a fine (we’ve heard somewhere around 60 Ethiopian Birr) or spend one night in jail.   I walked across the one lane of traffic and was standing in a median when I saw a policeman approaching me.  I thought…”Oh no!  This may not be so good!”

As he approached me I greeted him and he asked me, “Are you fine?” - the typical Ethiopian greeting.   He asked me if I needed any help and I told him, no I’m fine.  He asked me where I was going and I told him.  He asked me where my hotel was and I told him, “I live here.”  This was intriguing to him, so he asked me, “Where’s your car?”  I told him that I didn’t have one and that I walk many places.  He said, “Wow, you must be a strong man?”  What a funny response.  Here were the two of us having a conversation as we walked a hundred meters down the median strip to the crosswalk.  By the end of it he said to me, like a newly found friend, “Well, I have to go this way to the police station, but have a great day.”  We shook hands, exchanged names, and wished each other a good day.  

I reveled in the moment.  It blessed me to have a few minutes of conversation with an Ethiopian policeman - I don’t know why, but it just did. I think it is because I caught a glimpse of God’s incredible love for this young guy.   I also caught a glimpse of God’s grace that I had avoided a fine or a night in jail :)

It felt kind of like a divine appointment when I considered the depth of what God was doing in my heart, but from now on I think I’ll use the crosswalk.