In an earlier post, I bemoaned missing an opportunity to help an elderly lady when I had a chance. Well, God must have read it. He gave me another chance. This past Sunday, our student pastor, Michael Cormack, gave an inspired sermon about how God is at work even when circumstances don’t indicate His presence. I remembered his words later that day.
I was on my way home from visiting dad in Columbus. It is a 75 mile trip, and I almost always take the same route. This Sunday was an exception. It was a beautiful evening and I decided to take the scenic route. It’s not as fast, but passes through some picturesque hilly forests and farmland. It was about 8 PM and I was about four miles from home. I was passing the turnoff to Mohawk Dam. The sun was just setting, and inspiration hit. I felt that I had to drive the few extra miles to the dam for a photo op. When I arrived, the sun was in a perfect position, the sky was blue with a hint of orange, and, as always, the dam was a great foreground. I called Crystal to tell her of my whereabouts and plan. I got out of the car and began shooting. It felt good to get out of the car. It was wonderfully quiet and peaceful.
I had taken only a few pictures, when I saw a pretty young women walking directly toward me. She was, I would guess, mid thirties with long dark hair. Her face was red. She had obviously been crying. As I glanced down the hill, I noticed several other people making their way up. When she came up to me, I greeted her. She tried to hold back tears and asked what county we were in. I told her Coshocton. I immediately thought, oh, just a lost traveler needing directions. Well, I was right, and I was wrong. She, her husband, and their three kids were where they were supposed to be. Her husband, like me a former Eagle Scout, had taken his family on a twenty-five mile canoe trip down the Mohican and Walhonding Rivers. It wasn’t until they arrived at their destination that they realized that their car keys were back at the beginning in their second car.
The mom told me that she was responsible for forgetting the keys and felt horrible. She asked whether there was any Uber or taxi service in the area. At 8 O’clock on a Sunday, in Coshocton County, the sidewalks are rolled up and the roosters tucked in for the night. I told her not to worry; I could take them. She looked stunned. She offered to pay. I said ‘don’t be silly, that’s not necessary.’ ‘I told her I needed to call Crystal.’ When I did, Crystal just said, ‘of course, I needed to help, be careful.’ She would still be there when I got home.
So the husband, one daughter and I took the 25 mile trip through Coshocton and Holmes County’s back hills country. We followed his GPS instructions, not knowing where the destination was. We avoided the deer, the Amish, and a few tractors on the way. We had a nice talk in the car. They too were Christian. They were vacationing from the Cleveland area. Apparently, the father was trying to share some of his scouting skills with his family. His father had done the same when he was growing up, and it made a lasting impression. I related, since I had always done the same with Crystal and our girls. By the time we arrived, it was almost dark. They thanked me again and I was on my way home again. Since I finally knew where I was, I took a slightly simpler route home.
The chance of me being at that exact location at that time was incredibly small. Five minutes later, I would have been gone. When I regaled Crystal with the tale, she had the same reaction I did. It was God.
.Crystal’s Corner
When Ron and I were students at Bradley University we would go to one of the tallest buildings on campus and watch the sunset holding hands. It was something that couples did because the Bradley campus was on a hill and known for beautiful sunsets. Ever since then we have occasionally watched the sun set together and held hands and talked.
What happened on Sunday night with Ron was spiritual as well as earthly. He was stopping to look at the sunset, the light, and ended up helping people who were lost as well. He was on a hill as well. To go up to a stranger today is risky, but I think the young mother was led to Ron by God. I’m sure they had been praying for help and this was God’s response.
As Christians we need to be aware of what God wants us to do and where he wants us to be. Sometimes we just get this push to go somewhere, to talk to someone, or to get involved. That is what Ron felt on Sunday night. He responded and God’s will was done.
Ron and I often look at the sky and we are in awe of its beauty. I tell the girls that “God paints us a new sky every day.”
I think that it is interesting that Ron was interrupted while taking a photograph of God’s sky to help some of His children. Most people don’t like to be interrupted, but sometimes God stops us because we are needed elsewhere.
Keep looking up and believe that the Creator who made the earth and the sky also sees and hears us and knows our troubles.
Psalm 121:1 I will lift my eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help King James Version
Pictures taken just prior to God’s interruption.
Carolyn Lawrence
August 19, 2017 at 5:48 pm
Yes, God works in mysterious ways. God bless you for your kindness.
Ron
August 20, 2017 at 2:01 am
Thanks Carolyn.