Ignoring God like a Parking Ticket
The Fire Sirens Analogy
Scripture at the Bank
Ignoring God like a Parking Ticket
The knowledge of God lingers in the intellect like an unpaid parking ticket. The longer it is ignored, the greater the interest that accrues. There are many signs, warnings, and inner sighs—until at last, the Judge summons the offender. At this point, every soul is found guilty.
Some ignore the signs altogether, accumulating numerous unpaid balances. Others pay for some infractions, but not all—whether out of pride, laziness, or ignorance. Regardless of the reason, the remaining balance is brought forth as a strong witness in court.
In rare cases, a first- or few-time offender sees the warning, amends his way, and seeks the next open space—obedience. Though he may travel far to find it, the first lawful space he encounters shines like a brick of gold.
From that moment on, each time he is tempted to test the law, he remembers that golden spot and hurries back to it. For he has unveiled the goodness of the law and retreats to it at the first sign of evil.
Most notable of all are those offenders who, despite bearing a heavy unpaid balance and many summonses, willingly appear before the Judge. In humility, they pay their debt, make amends, and in good faith re-enter the city, trusting in the mercy of the Judge. From that day forward, they abide by the law—not out of fear, but out of love.
These offenders often go on to build great relationships with the Judge, and he entrusts them to the guidance of city planners—saints and Church Fathers—who know the layout of the city and where one may lawfully and safely rest.
Those who find themselves frequently before the Lord are often led to these saints, who hand them maps for the soul and weapons of defense against the lawlessness within.
Inevitably, we all will be ticketed—for the offenses written upon our souls. It is wise, then, to pay down the balance each evening before the Judge, and to seek the counsel of Scripture and the saints who have gone before us.
For the golden spots—the virtues—are made known to us like parking spaces revealed by city planners. We are to run to them at the first sign of traffic: the temptations and sins that clog the heart and confuse the soul.
But just as traffic clears if we remain in place, so too does the soul settle if we stay put in the space God has granted. If we leave too soon, our place may be stolen, or worse—we may be swept away entirely.
The Fire Sirens
We are living in the continuation of Scripture, only on unwritten pages. This evening, I was keen to uncover the spiritual essence of numerous occurrences during my walk. First, the sirens. This came to me and I shared with my friends as a humble offering of wisdom from the Lord.
Like the fire alarm sounds aloud in town at the first sight of a fire, so too should the alarm sound in our souls at the first sight of even the slightest evil.
Scripture at the Bank
It turns out those sirens were at the bank…which I was walking to to deposit my cash. Divine intervention. Today my mind was too much on earthly things, and finances. Glory to You my God, for the reminder.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
— Matthew 6:19–21