This week I was desperately trying to complete my training hours to keep my peace officers license. The deadline was August 31, 2013. Oh did I mention that I had TWO years to do it?
I was really undecided as to whether or not I wanted to keep my license since I had retired two years ago. My question was "What's the point?" Alas the voice of wisdom when my husband gave me the pros and cons of keeping the license active. Alright already!
I decided that I needed to meet the requirements and began taking classes. I needed to complete 40 hours of training and when I pulled up my records, I had completed 8! I got to work and pulled up some of the online classes. I began August 26th. Needless to say, I had to work fast.
I could choose any classes I wanted and only one was mandatory a 2 hour law update class. I figured that would be the piece of cake. I looked at my choice of classes and almost puked (sorry). All the classes had to do with some type of abuse. Spousal abuse, child abuse, not my favorite topics but I plowed through.
My husband and I had a long awaited get away planned and we were leaving early August 31 so that day was shot for training. On August 30, I had completed the required 40 hours-- yippee celebration time. I just needed this two hour online class and I got right to it. I went to the website and I told my husband that it looked like I could only order the books, the test would have to be mailed in and if that was the case, I would miss the deadline. Being ever optimistic, he said "do it- order the books and we can show your intentions were good in making an attempt to complete it." so I did.
We knew it was a holiday weekend and since I ordered the books late on Aug 30th, we would have to wait until September 3 after the holiday to call and plead my case. I did not give it too much thought during my get away however this morning I was on pins and needles waiting for 8:00 when they opened.
When I called about my status, the lady "kindly and sweetly" said "Oh it looks like you did complete your 40 hours.....unfortunately, you did not complete the law mandate and your license has been inactivated." What a blow! I was crushed! At first I did not want it and now after my frantic attempt, I had failed. So close and yet I missed the mark. I wanted to tell them that I had devoted 30 years to this career, tell them how much I had contributed, tell them how much my family had sacrificed. All those nightshifts, lost holidays, long hours, all because I love this department and today, all that meant nothing-but that was MY doing.
In my sadnessI thought "I just lost my license" but how many people know that in order to have eternal life, they must confess their sin and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet they put it off. They are given all the time in the world to make that decision yet their inability to make that choice can cost them.
You can't wait til the last minute, you can't cram, you can't talk your way in. Hell is full of people with good intentions, people who relied on works, and people who made huge contributions, people who gave up families in order to succeed, but heaven is full of "those who believe in Jesus Christ and his saving power!"
Don't lose your life because you can't decide. It was horrible to hold the phone and hear the words "unfortunately, you did not...." my heart sank and all I lost was a license.
I have to say however; there was good news for me - because of my status I can reactivate, it through additional training and other requirements. I am thankful that I got this second chance. Many will not!
I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24
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