A Sai Devotee Experience

[Guest guest]

Sai's Message to me delivered by a Highway Patrol Officer

 

This incident happened in the first week of November 2003. I was

moving from Florida to Chicago. Since it is a 15 hour drive, I have

decided to sleep over at my friend's place in Alexander City (in

Alabama), and start in the next day morning again. It is a 4 hour

drive from the place I started.

 

I started around 7 PM on the Friday evening. I was on US-27N which is

a rural high way with a speed limit of 55 MPH. There were some long

stretches of construction zones and some single lane zones along this

high way. These zones caused considerable delay. So I started

speeding upto 75 MPH when ever I don't see traffic before me.

 

I was close to Columbus, AL. Here the highway is passing through the

small hills and valleys. Because of these ups and downs, I was

reaching 80 MPH some times, when I am driving down the hill.

Suddenly, I saw a Highway Patrol Car far away coming behind me, with

lights turned on. I slowed down and when the Patrol car came behind

me, I pulled a on to the side and stopped. I waited for the Officer

and started cursing my bad luck. Two weeks back I lost my job. Around

2 or 3 months before, I got 2 tickets on a single day.

 

While I was thinking like this, the Officer approached my car. Then

He identified Himself and informed me that I was going at 75 MPH in a

55 MPH speed zone. Then He asked me why I was in so much hurry? I

gave some stupid reason which I can not believe even myself. Then He

asked for my driving license. I pulled out the purse from my pocket

and found my driving license in one of leaves of the credit card

sized see thru booklet (common in wallets, used to keep the credit

cards). The opposite leaf to the driving license has a card

(calendar) with Baba photo. I gave the driving license to the Officer

and then looked at the Baba photo and closed my eyes and remembered

Baba in my mind, while the Officer verified my license. Then I heard

the Officer saying "Please, slow down for Me, Sir". I opened my eyes

and looked at the Officer, who handed over my driving license. I

said "Yes". Then He went back to his car and left the scene. I was

completely surprised. It is rarely possible, to see a case where any

speeding (over 20 MPH) driver got only an advice instead of a ticket

from an Officer.

 

That night, during the rest of my drive, I was thinking about this

incident. And I was thinking about it for the last two months

(nearly). Here are some thoughts that passed thru my mind and few

changes that I am trying to implement in my driving style as well as

in my life style.

 

The advice that I got from the Officer, is probably the most common

advice given to any driver, who was stopped for speeding, by any

Officer. But I heard it from the Officer at the exact moment of me

remembering Baba. So I strongly believe that it is Baba's Message to

me. Considering the road conditions, poor visibility and no to

mention my past driving history, this Sai Leela and His Message

probably saved me from an impending accident. During that night and

next day, I tried to maintain my speed around the speed limits. And

these days, I am trying to maintain it with in speed limits, most of

the time.

 

By this Leela, Baba also showed me that He is always there, watching

over my welfare (like any other Devotee's). November and December

are

slow for the job market. But I have Faith in Baba, that He will show

me a way in the near future. All I need now is the Patience. Mean

while during these two months, I decided to pay a small Dakshina to

Baba. And my Dakshina to Baba is http://saidakshina.org.

 

I am reading the "Glory of the Shirdi Sai" E-Magazine (from

http://www.saidarbar.com ) for the last three or four months. It has

several sections which include Devotee Experiences, Letters from the

Sai Devotees. While going through these sections, I got this idea of

creating a web site, which provides a platform where Sai Devotees

around the world can interact with each other, in a better and

effective way. By registering and logging into this web site, Sai

Devotees can share their experiences; express their views (jewels) on

Shri Sai Satcharitra; post their local events or global events (like

SAI NAMA JAPA) for other devotee awareness.

 

I think that the most valuable asset that Baba ever had, is His

Devotees. So I am giving this site to the Sai Devotees. And I hope

that the Sai Devotees will pass over my Dakshina to Sai Himself and

make it a Success. Please forgive me and correct me if there is any

misunderstanding in my opinions, expressed here.

 

OM SAI RAM

A Humble Sai Devotee.