I’m a woman with fair skin. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to live in several countries around the world, mostly free of conflict. But in one country I felt targeted by the police because of my gender and skin color.

The first time I drove my car in that country, within minutes I was pulled over and told to pay what the police officer called a “fine” (it seemed more like a bribe to me) or be taken to jail. I knew I hadn’t broken any law, but because I had my small children with me, I paid and went on.

The same thing happened the next two times I drove, and yet when I was with my husband or someone who lived in that country, there was never a problem.

I asked a friend who’s a lawyer what I could do, and he said nothing could be done—it was just the way the police system worked. At that time each policeman paid his supervising officer a percentage of the “fines” collected each day, and on up the chain of command.

I love that country and planned to live there several years, so I knew I couldn’t continue like this. I also saw that it was a problem with a system, and not so much about me or the individual officers involved. I felt that if I was participating in that system, then I was contributing to it as much as anyone. I wanted to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

There seemed to be no easy answer, but I’d had many experiences of being gently guided and protected by God, infinite Love, so I felt confident that there was a solution. I knew that the same loving God that was guiding and protecting me was also guiding and protecting each police officer. 

This reminded me of a favorite Bible verse, “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it’ ” (Isaiah 30:21, New King James Version). I prayed wholeheartedly, “Father, what do I do?” Listening for direction, I continued living my life as normally as I could. 

I didn’t drive for a couple of weeks, but then one day I really had to run an errand, so I buckled the kids in the back seat and began driving. I felt peaceful and confident as we headed out. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, I had read, “Whatever it is your duty to do, you can do without harm to yourself” (p. 385), and that made a lot of sense to me. God, who is infinite Principle and Love, governs His creation justly. It was my duty to run this errand, so I knew that God would be with me and guide me, and that my children and I would be safe.

A few minutes later I was pulled over by a police officer, even though I hadn’t done anything wrong. He directed me off the road to a secluded spot. I wasn’t afraid, but I did not appreciate what I perceived as an attempt to intimidate me. I rolled down the window, and again I was told to pay up or go to jail. I felt Love’s guidance at that moment, looked him in the eyes, and said, “You know, I respect you and the police and this country too much to do that. You can take me to jail.” 

He stumbled back a few steps and then tried to explain why I should just pay the fine. Again I spoke to him of my deep respect for him, his work, and his country, and said I would not pay, and that he could take me to jail if that’s what he had to do. He looked down and appeared to be deeply moved. Then he looked up and gently said, “Thank you,” and let me go.

That was the end of the problem. I lived in that country four years and have returned for several happy visits, and since that day I have never been stopped by the police and asked for money. 

I don’t feel that this was the result of something clever that I said or did, but rather the result of all involved feeling divine Love’s presence. For me it was a holy moment that changed how I see and experience the world.