Years ago, I was arrested and charged with 3 accounts. An officer approached my car and I rolled my window down to politely greet the officer and without acknowledging my greeting he informed me on who he was by stating his title and telling me about his extensive years of experience. Following his introduction, the officer asked me to hand over my placard.
I immediately acted as though I was in a state of total confusion. Although I did not know what the word “placard” meant, in the back of my mind, I was able to immediately suggest what it could have meant and was fearful that I was now going to be in trouble.
Once the officer standing at my car was now questioning me about my placard, my decisions following that moment is what I would like for everyone reading to pay close attention to.
I immediately acted as though I was in a state of total confusion. Although I did not know what the word “placard” meant, in the back of my mind, I was able to immediately suggest what it could have meant and was fearful that I was now going to be in trouble.
Once the officer standing at my car was now questioning me about my placard, my decisions following that moment is what I would like for everyone reading to pay close attention to.
I asked the officer what a placard was. The officer ignored my question and asked me to hand over my placard. I asked the officer if he would mind me opening my glove compartment and middle console in my car so that he may check for a placard and he allowed me to do so. There was no placard. I then proceeded with asking the officer if I may open my bag in front of him so that he may check for the placard and he allowed me to do so. There was no placard.
By this time the officer was irate and annoyed with my behavior. He explained how if he wanted to, in the drop of a dime he could have squad cars surrounding me and I told the officer that would not be necessary because I wanted to cooperate with him. I had my phone in my hand and asked the officer if I may call my mother who was the owner of the vehicle. The officer replied no. I quickly pressed a button and called my mother any way. When my mother answered the phone I placed her on speaker and explained that an officer had approached my car and was asking me about a placard. I asked her if she knew what a placard was.
By this time the officer was irate and annoyed with my behavior. He explained how if he wanted to, in the drop of a dime he could have squad cars surrounding me and I told the officer that would not be necessary because I wanted to cooperate with him. I had my phone in my hand and asked the officer if I may call my mother who was the owner of the vehicle. The officer replied no. I quickly pressed a button and called my mother any way. When my mother answered the phone I placed her on speaker and explained that an officer had approached my car and was asking me about a placard. I asked her if she knew what a placard was.
Before my mother could respond, the belligerent behavior of the officer was at an all time high. He had reached through my car window, unlocked my car door and opened it beginning to forcefully thrust his knee into my body while twisting my arms in what seemed like a wristlock position. The pain felt so powerful that I feared my arms were going to break. I began to scream for help and somewhat squirm around. Pedestrians walked by ignoring the situation while my mom yelled through the phone panicking and asking for my location. I remember yelling at pedestrians while trying to reposition my body saying “if you won’t help please record this police officer, please just take out your phones and record this. This is police brutality!” The moment I mentioned my statement the officer told me that I was under arrest. By this time I had made up in my mind that there was no way that I was getting in the car with the police officer alone.
A pedestrian that stopped on the street called 911 to report the officer and shortly following 2 police vehicles and 2 police on bikes came to the scene and the officer released my arms. That day, I was arrested and charged with 3 accounts: the illegal use of a placard, attempting to obstruct justice, and resisting arrest.
A pedestrian that stopped on the street called 911 to report the officer and shortly following 2 police vehicles and 2 police on bikes came to the scene and the officer released my arms. That day, I was arrested and charged with 3 accounts: the illegal use of a placard, attempting to obstruct justice, and resisting arrest.
I lied instead of complying with the officer and because of my decision to lie, the situation uncontrollably escalated in a way that I never would have imagined and there were consequences. Following this incident, I immediately hired a lawyer and went through months of court hearings to defend my case and it took years before I could get my records expunged. Humiliation and temporary regret haunted me for awhile because of my decision causing me to begin to feel discouraged about my future.
How many of you reading this blog have made idiotic decisions or mistakes that you knew were wrong and you have let that incident deter you from moving forward with confidence through your future? This month I wanted to take time to showcase one of my personal idiotic decisions that I made in the past that temporarily deterred me from navigating through my future to remind everyone reading this blog that inspite of what our past may look like, God still has a promising future ahead that awaits.
It is okay to have a past. We all have a past, myself included. It is what helps mold us into who we are. According to the bible, “We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check” (James 3:2 NIV). Learn from your past and let it be a footstool to support you, but never allow it to hold you back from conquering anything in relation to your future.
Own your wrongs and confess your mistakes. One of the most beautiful things that I have discovered through my messups is that they have a tendency to humble me and create a space between myself and God that allow me to repent. “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13 NIV).
How many of you reading this blog have made idiotic decisions or mistakes that you knew were wrong and you have let that incident deter you from moving forward with confidence through your future? This month I wanted to take time to showcase one of my personal idiotic decisions that I made in the past that temporarily deterred me from navigating through my future to remind everyone reading this blog that inspite of what our past may look like, God still has a promising future ahead that awaits.
It is okay to have a past. We all have a past, myself included. It is what helps mold us into who we are. According to the bible, “We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check” (James 3:2 NIV). Learn from your past and let it be a footstool to support you, but never allow it to hold you back from conquering anything in relation to your future.
Own your wrongs and confess your mistakes. One of the most beautiful things that I have discovered through my messups is that they have a tendency to humble me and create a space between myself and God that allow me to repent. “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13 NIV).
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We are grateful for every life experience that you have blessed us with thus far: the good, the bad and the ugly. We appreciate every lesson learned through our decisions along the way and thank you for your gracious mercy. May you continue to shower us with encouragement as we own up to our wrongful decisions and step into full acceptance of our past. Please forgive us for our wrongs and use our past as testimony to help others in their future. Use our past as building blocks to strengthen us for our promising future that awaits and guide us along the way. We bind all spirits of determent that may try to hold us back. We bind doubt that may live within us because of our past. We bind humiliation and pray for elevation. We trust you, we trust our process, and we love you more than anything God. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Heavenly Father,
We are grateful for every life experience that you have blessed us with thus far: the good, the bad and the ugly. We appreciate every lesson learned through our decisions along the way and thank you for your gracious mercy. May you continue to shower us with encouragement as we own up to our wrongful decisions and step into full acceptance of our past. Please forgive us for our wrongs and use our past as testimony to help others in their future. Use our past as building blocks to strengthen us for our promising future that awaits and guide us along the way. We bind all spirits of determent that may try to hold us back. We bind doubt that may live within us because of our past. We bind humiliation and pray for elevation. We trust you, we trust our process, and we love you more than anything God. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.