Sundays are special—a time to gather and worship with God’s people. I WILL go to church—wherever I am. But once in a while, God makes a Sunday—well, um…INTERESTING. (See last blog, In a Church Parking Lot.)
Having attended church in Cortland NY on Sunday, July 16, we drove towards Pittsburgh on I-90—stopping for lunch at Applebee’s. What happens when you eat well, especially at noon?
Guard rail
Predictably, I nodded off. Jim seemed okay—until WHAM! Rumble strip AND guard rail. Wide awake now, he yanks the car back and moves to the middle lane. A pickup goes by, window down, passenger mouthing, Are you all right? We wave our thanksgiving and begin contemplating what could have happened, apart from God. Swerve into another car—distinct possibility. Or NO guard rail and a ditch at that particular spot. Any of the above would have ruined our day.
The door problem
Two hours later, we stop for gas and see a scrape down the driver side and hear the door groan on open/shut. As Jim pokes ineffectively with a screwdriver, Angel #2 shows up at the pump next to us—a lean, ropy fellow who just happens to have the right tool to ease the cranky door.
Two angels watching over us, or was it an entire regiment of heavenly protectors this time?
We went on to our conference in Pittsburgh, where the theme centered on prayer. The message was clear: We can believe all the right doctrinal things, but unless love, trust and obedience show clearly in our way of living, our faith amounts to little.
I don’t expect miracles every Sunday, but I can live daily, knowing I’m safe in God’s hands–even at my moment of death.
What close calls have you had? Did it change your way of thinking in any way?
Please let me know: egus@me.com
Hi Ellie,
So glad that you are both okay !
I left work one night after a 3-11 shift in a very bad snow storm. I was driving home on rte. 28 so.
in Wolfeboro NH. It was snowing sideways into the car. The wipers were freezing and getting covered in snow and ice. I had to keep stopping to clean the ice off the wipers and windshield. There were no snowplows in sight, no headlights and I could not see the reflectors on the sides
of the road. I was totally lost and didn’t even know if I was on the road anymore or maybe on
one of the many ponds. I couldn’t even call my husband for help as I couldn’t tell him where I
was. After feeling very panicky I saw a plow truck and got behind it. I followed it until I could
recognize where I was and finally made it home. I have never before had such a terrifying
driving experience.
I think God helped me to find my way home in that storm.
Whoo! I had an experience like that, I think with an old jeep or other old car when the wipers refused to work. Couldn’t see a thing. Had to guess where the exit was from I-495. Was totally amazed when I got off safely!
So glad nothing worse happened. Take care, good friend.
Exciting story of God’s watching over you and Jim! When we moved to Boston in 2002, we stayed at the Tewksbury Residence Inn while we house hunted. Our kids were small so I had to wait for my husband to come home before shopping. I was tired but ventured out in unfamiliar territory before GBS was ubiquitous. When trying to get on the 495 highway, I wondered why headlights were coming my way when I suddenly realized I entered the exit! Since I executed what surely was the fastest 3-point turn history even though I can’t ordinarily back up straight or parallel park decently, I expect to meet an angel in heaven with a good story to tell me!
When my daughter, Kristin was 3 years old she fell into the Swift River and was heading toward a waterfall. An angel appeared suddenly and plucked her out of the river and handed her to me and then disappeared.