Driving across Kansas, the early hours of Saturday morning, I cringed when red and blue lights flashed in my rear view mirror.

I shot a look at my speedometer. I’d set it at the speed limit, but the limit had just lowered. Perhaps I hadn’t adjusted my speed in time.

“Oh great!” I said to my husband. “I’m going to get a ticket.”

I pulled over and dug through my purse for my license as my husband opened the glove box to find the insurance card.

“It’s expired,” he said. “I think the newest card is on the table at home.”

“Great! I’ll probably get a ticket for that too!”

“I’ll pray,” my husband said.

While he prayed, the officer approached the passenger side window and said, “Do you know it’s illegal in the state of Kansas to drive in the left lane unless you’re passing?”

Though I’d passed a car awhile back, I hadn’t moved back to the right lane. Really? That’s why he pulled me over? Not for speeding?

“Had no idea officer,” I said. “I’m sorry.”

He left, offering a warning and we continued on our journey, relieved and staying in the right lane and recalling a previous time we got pulled over.

That time, a few years back, I was speeding, running late as usual, trying to get us to a meeting. My husband, in the passenger seat, didn’t realize I was speeding. After the officer collected my license and insurance card (not expired that time), he headed back to his vehicle.

“He’s going to his car to write a ticket,” I said to my husband.

“I’ll pray,” said my husband, then.

I chuckled sarcastically. “Go ahead, but he’s going to write me a ticket. I’m sure of it.” I was guilty.

A few minutes later, the policeman returned with a quirky look on his face, shaking his head. “You’re not going to believe this,” he said. “I was going to write a ticket, but when I got back to my car, I discovered I had no tickets left on my pad.”

The policeman offered a warning and we left, driving away slowly, vowing not to ever speed again, and thanking God. Miracle? Maybe.

Perhaps my husband, Bishop Leo Michael, an Anglican bishop in the Holy Catholic Church, Anglican Rite, could be made the patron saint of speeders someday. Was this Memorial Day incident on the highway another miracle? Who knows?

Happy Memorial Day weekend! Thank you to all those who fought for our freedom!

And drive safe during your travels. Don’t ride in the left land in Kansas or anywhere and don’t speed…not even if you have a patron saint of speeders traveling with you.