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In November of 2009, Brandon Preveau of Chicago, Illinois, bought a Chevy Monte Carlo for $600, registered this car in his ex-girlfriends name, then parked said car at Chicago O’Hare Airport and racked up 678 parking tickets totaling $105,761.80. For three years this car sat and stock piled ticket after ticket after ticket. Jennifer Fitzgerald, the ex-girlfriend, was… to say the least…not amused. Here’s the crazy part: She had to pay! 

According to DNA Info Chicago, the city agreed to drop almost all the ticket fines against Fitzgerald after she filed a civil suit. This couple was helped by the court system and only made to pay $4,470/ Preveau had to pay the initial down payment of $1,600 and Fitzgerald had to pay the rest PLUS an additional $78 per month until the fine was paid off. 

Life. Ain’t. Fair. 

J.F.K. Jr. once said, “Life is unfair, but it’s unfair to everyone.” Even wise ol’ King Solomon knew about how unfair life can be saying: “Again I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong, or bread to the wise, or riches to the discerning, or favor to the skillful; rather, time and chance happen to all of them (Ecc. 9:11, CSB).” 

Life. Ain’t. Fair. 

Would you care to know why this is? Because we live in a sin-filled world full of sinful people. When folks are selfish, greedy, impatient, or hateful, they start acting in a way to make sure life stays towards their advantage. We typically lose all thought for others, making sure we get ours first and foremost. Even within our churches we tend to want our own way. We want to hear music we like. We want to hear sermons that don’t offend or challenge us. We want the programming and activities WE like and desire. We don’t want to go or get involved or pay any more than we need. We tend to act as if Church…like life…is about us. And, when things don’t go like we wish, we walk away complaining that life.ain’t.fair. 

Save these helpful passages: 

– When you feel forgotten (Hebrews 6:10). 

– When you feel like you’re being tested…especially in your faith (James 1:12). 

– When all hope is lost (Jeremiah 29:11). 

– When you’ve lost your strength (Isaiah 41:10). 

– When the pain is just too much and you ain’t sure you can keep going (Revelation 21:4). 

– When you are empty and could really use some heart-felt-WORSHIP to keep going (Habakuk 3:17 & 18). 

Life. Ain’t. Fair. 

But…God’s more than enough! (2 Corinthians 9:8). 

Rev. J. Cameron Bailey is pastor of Kenbridge Christian Church. He can be reached at jamescameronbailey@gmail.com.