Writing Tickets
While Traffic Snarls

When 70 year–old Dr. Robert Richter realized that all of New York City had been hit with a blackout, he joined with a woman and a teenager to ease the traffic jam at West 79th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. After 15 minutes of directing traffic, Richter and his helpers were relieved to see the flashing lights of a NYPD Traffic Enforcement vehicle approaching. They assumed the officers would take over waving cars through the intersection.

Their relief quickly turned to disbelief as the traffic officer got out of his vehicle only to issue traffic tickets to two vehicles parked on West 79th Street. The entire city of New York is suffering a power outage, traffic is snarled at every intersection, and the officers write two traffic tickets before returning to their vehicle and leaving the scene. Several onlookers urged the officers to stop writing the citations and start helping, but they silently ignored their pleas.

Richter eventually directed the traffic cops themselves through the intersection.

Does this story sound familiar to you? Writing tickets while the traffic snarls? It’s at least as old as the Pharisees.

Matthew 12:1-14 The Pharisees are more concerned about Sabbath regulations than they are about people who are hurting. Jesus makes it clear that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. The Pharisees respond by plotting to kill Jesus.

Matthew 15:1-20 The Pharisees are more interested in enforcing their traditions than they are in treating people (even their own family) correctly. They are outwardly committed to God, but inwardly their hearts are far from Him.

Matthew 23:4 The Pharisees place heavy loads on others, but do not lift a finger to help. Their focus is on correcting others rather than helping others.

It’s as contemporary as you and me. How many times have we been critical of others while distancing ourselves from helping them? How many times have we been more interested in enforcing our traditional interpretation of the letter of the law with no concern for the spirit of the law?

Why do we do it? I’m not sure, but I can only suggest that it is easier to write tickets than it is to direct traffic.

What do we do about it? Park your police car, stop writing tickets, and start waving traffic through the intersection. In other words, stop throwing stones and start lifting burdens.

— Bob Clark

8/26/2003