Knocks sounded from the direction
of the car engine, and Jerry and I gave each other a look. In a moment, steam
seeped from around the edges of the hood. The
temperature gage read “H.” We rolled over into a convenience store parking lot and tried to get a glimpse of the road signs in the dark cause in the north
Atlanta sprawl, we had no idea where we were. We didn't know yet our radiator had just exploded, either.
I sat there a moment reflecting
on the past four days. It was almost comical. Earlier in the week, I’d developed
a low-level infection which I was still battling, then we’d found weevils or some sort of critter in a
pantry and had to spend time we really didn’t have emptying the entire thing. The
next day, we received an unexpected bad news letter. Then a routine screening
for cancer seemed to go south and there was a tense twenty-four hour wait for what
turned out to be negative results. Now this trip to celebrate our granddaughter’s
birthday had a wrench thrown in it. The self-pity boat threatened to head into
port.
I pulled out my phone to contact roadside
assistance and Jerry phoned our daughter to drive what turned out to be around
twenty miles to get us.
A quote from Charles Stanley I
heard a few days before kept drifting into my mind, “Thanksgiving reminds us we
are walking in the presence of God.” I remembered that none of the events of
the past week were unexpected for God, and he would help us navigate them. Though still present, the infection was waning, we’d gotten rid of the weevils, the bad news letter was
something God would help us deal with one step at a time, and thank the Lord, the
cancer diagnosis was negative. Circumstances might not always turn out the way
we want but God would still be with us. We were blessed beyond measure in so many
ways. We were in the presence of God.
In a surprising turn, the tow
truck driver was only two minutes away. And though the next day involved many
hours of driving because we had to borrow a car for an appointment at home and
then return, the man who owned the repair shop was one of the kindest persons
ever. His Christian faith was so clear in his demeanor. He helped to turn an exploded radiator into a joyful experience. In addition, God provided for the
repair expense in an unexpected and most appreciated way.
Some of you may be having one of
those weeks or days, too, when it feels like the enemy has pelted you with an
entire sack of rocks. Maybe you’re aching from the bruises, but there is a
bigger picture than just the one in front of you. If we can turn our hearts to
God, even in difficulties, it will often help give us the eyes to see how God has
already been at work in amazing ways.
As we turn the corner from
Thanksgiving into advent, we pray for greater vision to recognize Emmanuel, God
with us, and give Him thanks that He came, and that we are in His presence, no
matter what is exploding around us.
“The virgin will conceive and
give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means ‘God with us’).
(Matthew 1:23).
To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.com
Beverly Varnado copyright 2021