All I wanted was a change of scenery, some form of refreshment after the stress of the semester’s hectic classes and other hustle and bustle of life. Our family trip to Caye Caulker was the perfect solution. We had some exciting new experiences, but we also learned an important lesson.

We lodged in one of the hotels at the center of Caye Caulker, and we needed a means of transportation to traverse the island. So we rented two golf carts for the duration of our stay. There are no real roads there, and people drive around in golf carts or use bicycles as their major transportation. One day, as I was driving some family members to the grocery shop, we encountered two police officers—a male and a female. They looked very stern in their khaki shirts, dark blue trousers with a green stripe down the length of both outer seams, and dark blue peaked caps. I believe they were sergeants. The male officer beckoned me to stop the vehicle. I immediately obliged and stopped about three feet away from where they stood. “Can you show me your license please?” commanded the straight-faced female police officer.

“Hello ma’am. We are visitors and just came here for a family vacation,” I responded.

“Sir, it doesn’t matter if you’re from here or not. You must always have your license with you,” the male officer retorted. I was bewildered at what I just heard, since the rental agency had not required a license nor told us one was required to operate a golf cart. 

I was surprised at their harsh tone, and I silently prayed for my license to be in my wallet. Fortunately, there it was, in one of the inner pockets.

“Okay, Ma’am. Here is my license,” I declared confidently, trying to hand it over to the female officer. But the male officer snatched it from me and looked at it critically, as though he doubted I was the owner. After a long perusal, he eventually passed it to the female officer who forced a smile and said admonishingly, “You may go now, but you should always have your license with you whenever you’re driving here!”

We all responded in unison, “Thank you!”

My family and I felt we were being treated unjustly. The officers were unfriendly to the point of rudeness. We sensed they were not seeking to make corrections but poking us to elicit a response and escalate the situation. And later when I narrated what had happened to other people, including residents of the island, they found the officers’ behavior a bit strange. But by God's grace we were able to humble ourselves and avoid further complications. 

Sometimes, it is hard to remain silent when we feel hurt or wronged. As anger boils, our words become ripe to lash out at others. However, there are times when it is wise to remain calm in the face of raw emotion. The writer of Ecclesiastes says, "There is a time for everything, and a season for everything under the heavens...a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace (Ch 3, v. 3 & 8). And James advises that “everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry” (1:19).

As followers of Christ, by God’s grace we can remain quiet, cool, and contemplative in trying situations. 

Smart silence sends a message of maturity, and patience waits to speak guarded words full of grace and truth. Those are golden to God.     

Share this with a friend