Jody blogs at “Three Way Light”

Tradeoff Thursday!

Jody has been blogging since January of 2012, over at Three Way Light. But she has been writing for a very long time. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, where she and her husband have enjoyed worshiping and serving at their church for the past 20 years. They have two beautiful children, both married, and five grandchildren.
Jody works as a Paraeducator, or Teaching Assistant, in Special Education. She enjoys reading, writing and gardening — especially watching things grow! I appreciate her talent, her insight and her friendship.

The following poem originally appeared on Jody’s blog on March 4, 2012, in a post titled “Day Off.” See whether it blesses you as it did me. Then go visit her blog to read more! Here’s Jody:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last week I had a day off–yippee!–to go to Traffic Court.
As I drove home from my appearance, I ‘wrote’ this poem in my head and put it on paper when I got home.

Red Read

Traffic court assembly,

A crew, United Nations-like

Standing in a not-line waiting to see

The Judge.

I’m here about my red car

That (they say) ran a red light,

Thanks to the ever-ready camera.

I’ve come to differ.

Surviving the intrusion of airport security

Come to this small town clerk’s room,

We file in; I sit front and center,

Ever the eager “See me? I want an A” student.

Not long to wait—

I’m alphabetically blessed–

Capital letter C.

I lean over to the young girl next to me

Penning her grocery list,

“I hope they don’t show those insidious videos here

In front of everyone. That would be embarrassing.”

I’m blushing red at the thought.

“That’d be like standing in front of God

At the bench, having the whole world view your life.”

She rolls her eyes in response,

Exhales through rounded lips

A pregnant “Whoa………” of worry at the thought.

I recall my Pastor’s message from yesterday

And the words roll out before I can retrieve them,

“I’m glad that Jesus covers it all for me.”

Mr. Your Honor the Judge calls my name.

After reviewing the tape he declares,

“Mrs. C, the evidence is insufficient and because of

A technicality, your fine is dismissed.

There is no need to pay.”

I think about The Judge

who’s passed my sentence onto His Son

And writes in red, “Dismissed.”

~~~~~~~~~~~
c. 2012 Jody Lee Collins