The Yellowstone Trip | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: The Yellowstone Trip | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marilyn Meiners
03/10/25
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

In 1973 our family of four had just completed an exciting trip to Yellowstone National Park. Our two boys, ages five and seven found the trip “awesome” as our oldest proclaimed. It was an especially enjoyable vacation because that year had been a hard year for our family. Eight months earlier our youngest son had been run over by a farm tractor while visiting his grandmother. An accident that could have ended horribly but, by the grace of God, our son survived with few major injuries. In fact, the doctors were amazed at his recovery. He did need surgery for internal bleeding, but they were able to get it stopped. A week after the accident he walked out of the hospital.

My husband was preparing for the ministry and we wondered who was testing us. God or the Enemy. We were not going to fail the test. Paul continued to persevere in his quest to become a pastor.

A month after Dennis’ accident, we were in a car accident. In that accident my husband lost his bottom teeth when his face hit the steering wheel. I ended up in the hospital for nine days with a compressed fracture of the back. Oh brother! Here we go again.

God verses the Enemy? Good question. No matter what, we were going to continue to pursue the ministry God called us to no matter what the obstacles might be that tried to dissuade us.

This being said, we truly needed a vacation. What we didn’t need was what happened on our way home.

We left Yellowstone early Friday morning. We needed to be home by Sunday so Paul could get to classes on Monday. We drove until dark and then began looking for a motel where we could stay the night. Something clean but not too expensive. I began watching for signs which might give us a clue when a motel would appear.

Around six o’clock I spotted a place that looked nice. It was rather secluded, but it looked inviting as it sat amid the quiet forest. Flowers lined the path to the office door. It looked to me like the perfect place to stay.

As was the tradition, I would get out of the car, go to the office, inquire about room availability and price, they relay that news to my husband. Together we would decide if we should stay or not. This evening was no different.

As I opened the door to get out of the car I noticed there were dozens of men standing around the perimeter of the motel, both first floor and second floor, leaning on the railing watching what was going on. I thought “That’s kind of weird. Kind of creepy,” but I continued to the office door for information. Inside was the same. A very nice office gentleman but there were a bunch of men standing around inside too, all watching me with some kind of strange expression, eyes dancing.

I gathered the information then headed back to the car. On the way to the car I felt the hairs on the back of my neck standing and I had goosebumps.

Something was not right.

I got in the car and said to Paul, “Lock the doors and get out of here as fast as you can.” He started the car and we left.

“What was that all about?” he asked.

I was still shaking as I said, “I don’t know what was going on back there but something was off. Too many men standing around leering. God seemed to say “GO!”

I felt like Lot must have felt in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham wanted to spare his nephew Lot after the downfall of these cities. Abraham pled with God asking that Lot might be spared when the city is destroyed. God sent angels to the city, and they went to Lot’s house. When night fell, all the men of the city gathered about Lot’s door and demanded Lot bring out his guests (the angels) so they could be raped. Lot says “no” and the crowd becomes angry. The angels then snatch Lot into the house and they strike the crowd with blindness.

Sodom is destroyed but Lot is spared.

I have no idea what those men were planning, if anything. I just know that God seemed to tell me we should not stay there.

Who was I to argue with God.

I do believe God spared us from something sinister.

Story is non-fiction
Scripture story from Genesis 18-19 (NLT)

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.