After dropping Hope off at daycare, I headed down Cape Horn Road to work, cutting through Sage Hill on my way to Camp Betty Washington Road. I learned rather quickly how important it is to pay attention to those lights on the console of your car. The battery light had been on for a few days, but I had been too busy at work and readying plans for Thanksgiving to have time to stop to have it checked. That was a mistake. After a few turns, the power steering went out in my car, and within a short distance it came to a dead stop. It would not turn over.
I called my insurance company and arranged a tow. It would take an hour and a half. An hour and a half! And it was cold. I called work; I was expected to be there ASAP to train a new employee. After getting agitated due to the circumstances, I called my garage, explained the situation, and said I would be having it towed. Then, a good Samaritan came along and gave me a jump. I called to cancel the tow, a decision I quickly regreted after my car made it 5 feet and completely died, no power at all. Feeling overwhelmed, I cursed at the car. I called to reschedule the tow truck. I called my garage again, explained my situation and learned that I could have a local tow truck there within 15 minutes. I called to cancel the tow again. After arriving at the garage, I asked if I could borrow a car and that I needed to get to work. The owner graciously agreed.
I arrived at work around 10:00, almost 2 hours late. After I pulled in, I realized my car keys were still in my pocket. Needless to say, my car could not be fixed without the keys. Just great... I called my dad and grandfather, hoping they could find my spare key. Even that was missing.
Well, I started my mail route 2 1/2 hr late, with a heavy load and a new employee to train. Time flew by quickly, and I could see we were not going to be done by 7:00. Then, the new girl got sick. Seriously, what else could go wrong? I continued delivering mail until she could be safely taken back to the office. I still had more than 2 hours worth of delivery when it became dark. Help was sent for me, and I finished my day around 6:30.
Looking back on my day, not much went right. In fact, pretty much everything went wrong. I even sinned multiple times, especially when I doubted God's providence when I instead felt the need to curse at the situation. As the day went by, I could instead see God working in the details, despite the circumstances:
- My car died in a closed residential neighborhood, not on Route 83 where it could have caused a serious accident, and not before dropping Hope off on a chilly, November morning at her daycare.
- One passerby stopped to see what happened, and offered help.
- The local tow truck sent by my garage arrived quickly.
- The owner of my garage graciously lent me a van for the day.
- I arrived only 2 hours late for work, instead of not making it at all.
- I learned my dad had a lot of time scheduled off because of hunting season, and I could borrow a car until mine was fixed.
- The new employee even rebounded from her sickness quickly, returning to work on Wednesday.
- Wednesday was my normal scheduled day off, so I was able to collect a full day's overtime to help dull the pain of the expensive repair.
All those things went right. And, the best detail not mentioned yet - when I turned on the borrowed van's radio, WSBA came on. Not wanting to listen to talk radio, I pushed the FM button. WJTL promptly came on, with Chris Tomlin singing "Good Father". I promptly sensed a peace overcome me as I listened to the lyrics. They were exactly what I needed to hear. I no longer needed to focus on my circumstances, I could see God's goodness and love working throughout the day to keep me safe. Even when the day's circumstances continued to get worse, I told one customer that all I could say was "God is good." Do I wish I could relive the day, and change the circumstances? Yes. But I'm glad I can't because God taught me a lesson that day - don't look around me at the world, just look up at Him.
Here are the lyrics to "Good Good Father", with bold emphasis on what God had me learn that "terrible" day, one for which I can now be thankful:
Listen on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBmwwwiHrOk.
Good, Good Father
I've heard a thousand stories
Of what they think You’re like
But I've heard the tender whisper
Of love in the dead of night
You tell me that You’re pleased
And that I'm never alone
[Chorus]
You're a Good Good Father
It's who You are
It's who You are
It's who You are
And I'm loved by You
It's who I am
It's who I am
It's who I am
I've seen many searching for answers
Far and wide
But I know we're all searching for answers
Only You provide
Because You know just what we need
Before we say a word
[Bridge]
You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways to us
Love so undeniable I can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable I can hardly think
As You call me deeper still
As You call me deeper still
As You call me deeper still
Into love love love
