Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Purposefulness (Purpose in Life) (05/25/06)
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TITLE: YOU NEVER KNOW | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ruth Sargent
05/31/06 -
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I was driving my three kids to school that cold , wintry morning in Perryton, Texas. Frozen snow had covered the ground for days, and there was an icy wind blowing, with a chill factor of minus 20°. The main entrance of the school was a considerable walk in the freezing cold, but the side entrance was only a few steps into the building. I started to turn the corner toward the side entrance, but, following a sudden impulse, I jerked the wheel back straight.
My kids immediately saw that they were going to have to walk down that long sidewalk in that bitter cold. They let me know about it right away.
"Mom, what did you do that for? It's going to be so cold, and all you had to do was turn at that corner,” my daughter said.
"I know!” I answered in complete exasperation. “I feel so stupid. I don’t know why in the world I did that.”
They moaned and groaned a little more, as the car doors slammed shut. The silence seemed to be asking me the same question of “Why?” And my mind was still wondering the same thing.
Because of the direction I was now headed, I proceeded to the next corner, taking a different route to work. A few blocks later, there was a girl on the sidewalk off to my right, walking through the snow. I didn't pay any attention to her, as I was approaching a stop sign on the icy streets. I put my brakes on, when, suddenly, my tires began to slide, and my car began to fishtail on the ice. I swerved sharply, spinning the steering wheel back and forth, in an effort to regain control. In the process, I accidentally bumped the horn, as I was beginning to stop. Hearing the horn honk, the girl on the sidewalk looked up, saw me, and began walking toward my car.
Immediately, I recognized that she was a friend of mine. Gaylene thought that I had intentionally honked at her, and intended to give her a ride. As she got settled in the car, she explained that she had a flat tire on the way to work. She didn’t have a spare, and no one to call, so she began walking the two miles downtown. All she had on was a light coat and ordinary shoes, which were crusted with snow. She was freezing cold.
“Ruth, I am so glad that you came along. It’s still a long way, and I didn’t know what to do.” Gaylene couldn’t thank me enough.
I dropped her off at her job and proceeded on to mine. I felt guilty that she had thanked me at all. But, what was I supposed to tell her? That I had made a wrong turn? That I hadn’t even noticed that it was her walking in the snow? Or, that I didn’t honk my horn on purpose? Besides all that, I would have driven on, if she hadn’t started toward the car?
It was all too much for coincidence. Surely, the Lord was looking down on my friend. She didn’t live near her family, and must have felt very needy, very alone. No one knew she needed help.
Except God. Doesn’t the Bible say that God sees each little sparrow fall, and that we are of much more value than a sparrow? In his love and mercy, He had put a plan into motion. How blessed I was, to be a part of it. I began to praise God for the wonder of his ways, and even today, many years later, I marvel at his hand directing these weird circumstances.
But, you never know. And, that's the whole idea! That's the way it's supposed to be. Acts of kindness and compassion would lose their true meaning, if we couldn’t glorify God in the process. A thoughtful word, or listening to someone who is lonely or depressed, may be an answer to someone’s prayer.
No, you don’t know, and I don’’t know. But, God knows.
1. Matthew 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. King James Version
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