God's Timing

Of course we were running late.

We were to be in Covington for the Sons of Jubal rehearsal at 2:00 p.m. and it was at least a 2 hour drive (per MapQuest). We decided to venture down the Interstate per MapQuest's recommendation, as opposed to cutting across country.

We did swing through the Krystal drive-through at Banks Crossing and chose to eat as we continued down the Interstate - I don't particularly like the route from Commerce to Athens especially since they are in some phase of road work.

Somewhere near the Gwinnet county line (which side I'm not sure), I looked up to see a trailer rolling down the median in our direction. As good samaritans started pulling over to lend a hand, Donna's nurse heart kicked in, so we also pulled over. Now, I had visions of death, having watched that trailer as it tumbled over and over, flailing dirt and grass, and dragging the vehicle that thought it was in control.

As we approached the vehicle, we smelled gas, and heard someone call out about whether or not the engine was still running, while courageous hands reached in to help the driver who was already in the process of crawling out. He was the lone occupant of the vehicle and he was walking (probably not the best choice), blood running down his face, as we approached.

Then we saw the other vehicle - a car. It was just beyond the first vehicle/trailer which blocked our view of it until we got closer. Seeing that others were helping the first driver, Donna and I headed immediately to the second vehicle.

Others were also approaching, but Donna, as a nurse took charge. The driver was still in his car. As Donna reached him, she began to access his condition and tried to restrain any neck movement until the EMS workers arrived. Her initial assessment showed that he appeared to be OK, but she, with her training, was not taking any chances. We did notice right away how scared he was and Donna sought to calm him. She inquired and received a positive response about his spiritual condition, and he reached to grab and hold his nearby Bible as she prayed with him.

Of course, emergency personnel soon arrived and began their work, but we stayed nearby until the drivers were both loaded onto the ambulance. We did grab our cell phone and contact the boy's (yes, only 19) family, even allowing him to talk briefly with them as the EMS worked to restrain him on the backboard.

Through the day, we continued to have contact with the family discovering that everything seemed to be OK with the young man.

Now if we hadn't been running late, if we had chosen to go across country, if we hadn't pulled over in Commerce to grab a bite to eat, if we hadn't been headed to a SOJ concert in the first place, then we wouldn't have been in that place at the right time for ministry to occur.

It doesn't really matter how many other "ifs" one could come up with - and there would be many - because, after all, it was a matter of ... God's timing.

Blessings all - remember you just don't know what direction your life will take today!

Richard