Through the Ice Storm

Happy Sabbath

I thank God that right after Sabbath last week, I received a call from my mechanic.  He said my car was ready Friday but he forgot to call.  My phone is usually not charged and when I am home, I have it on silent mode and never have it close to me, but it was God’s will I had the phone in hand when he called me at what was 5-10% battery power that night.  Their business is supposed to be closed by 4:30pm but he called me around 7pm so I headed over and was able to get my car and everything I really wanted fixed was repaired.

I paid for things outside of the body work and the bill ran up over $700 but he let me go with $400 charges.

I am mighty glad because I knew the brakes on the other car I was borrowing from my parents was not great on the road and if I had to deal with slick conditions, I would not be able to really stop in time.  The week went great and was challenging, but it became extra challenging when Thursday came around. 

I had three appointments for that day and knew that a winter storm would be affecting the area, but expected rain to wash everything away.  I headed out and completed my first two meetings and was on my way to the third one which I expected would give me a dicey return drive home when I was done.  I was only 15-25 minutes into my drive when I noticed my car was losing control quickly.  I opted for back roads thinking everyone dealing with the storm would be on the main roads and slow m down.  After hitting more ice, I decided to call and cancel the meeting for the afternoon.  I used my gps to find another route to head home for what was supposed to be 40-45 minutes away from where I was.  I saw secondary roads getting backed up and didn’t think much of it and when I came to base of a hill which I would climb, I noticed a car having trouble at the bottom.  I saw everyone else going up the very same hill with no issues so I decided to follow my gps and proceed. 

My car just couldn’t handle those hills and the area I had to travel through had many rolling hills.  I tried pushing the van of a girl in front of me and almost blew my transmission trying to get the move on that same hill.  I had to ignore my gps because it was taking me towards more and more hills and if I left my car in park, my car would still be sliding down.  It came to a point I had to use the bathroom and I thought about what I told myself to do that morning.  Last time I was stuck in traffic, I had a stomach bug so I made sure a plastic bag was in the car, but on Thursday I didn’t think to get a cup in case I had to go, if you know what I mean.  I prayed and prayed during and after the first of four hours I would be stuck out there and the Lord put a convenience store chain that I frequent in my sight line.  I got gas, used the bathroom, was allowed a free cup, and got back on the road to deal with more hills, driviers losing control and getting way too close to my just repaired car, and driving 2-20 miles per hour for most areas, even going miles out of my way to avoid what would be an area that yields inevitable accidents just to get to my parent’s home to pick up my son.  My son got home 30 minutes late and he fell asleep on his bus by the time he rolled up and I was surprised I was there before him. 

I thank and praise God because I could have been stranded out there.  There were so many accidents and people ran out of gas.  I heard that on I78 that there was over an 30 mile back up where cars were stuck in ice and snow, out of gas and drivers went to sleep because there was nothing that they could do to really stay alert.  They were out there for 12-18 hours, I still don’t know how long.  People have to use the bathroom.  People have health conditions like diabetes or may have been heading to the hospital because of some complications or childbirth.  So many things could have happened but I thank Jesus that it went the way it went for me and my family.

I thank the Lord that my home is coming together.  I thank the Lord that my son is learning at church and listening.  I can tell through his prayers.  I pray for the youth of the churches I visit.  They have so many distractions and influences around them vying for their affections and I want them to continue walking in the direction the Lord has for them to go.  I have seen children get baptized but not too long after pick up the bad habits of other youth at school and in the world around them.  I know the parents who several are elders if not pastors are crying out for their children and asking for the Lord to intervene.  I want to see them doing well.  I want to see them and my son developing healthy and strong relationships with Jesus.  I want to build my relationship as well.  Pray for the youth and thank the Lord for what He has blessed you with.

Thank Him for yet another day to change and grow with Him.

God is good.