are still times when I wonder, Why me? My only answer is that God has more work for me to do. I have no doubt that I'm still here because of him. Until we meet again, I will carry on and continue to do his will.
 | Time Warp |
Claire Gardner
Virginia
As I looked through my windshield, the silhouettes played with my eyes. The moon was bright, and there were no street lights as I drove along the back roads to my job in Hemet, California. From my home in Moreno Valley I had two options: I could take the back roads and cut through farmers’ fields which took forty-five minutes or I could take the freeway which would take me over an hour. On this day I opted for the more scenic route. I checked the clock noticing that it was 4:45 a.m. and figured I should arrive in just twenty minutes. In the meantime I was enjoying the early drive with no traffic in sight. For all intention purposes it looked like it was going to be a great day!
As I round the next curve, I see a barricade in the road and approach cautiously…DETOUR—DETOUR where?
I've driven this road to work for over a year now. There's a field, not a road unless they call this narrow dirt trail through the cow pasture a road. I wonder how far this will take me out of my way. I try to pick up speed in the sand and something darts in front of me; I brake and just as quickly my car goes into a spin so fast that the scenery becomes just a blur. I have no control of my car!!! My hands are on the wheel, but I am out of control! Strangely, I feel calm. What does this mean? I wonder, God, if you're trying to get my attention. I'm listening.
The next few seconds seem to happen in slow motion; the scenery remains a blur as I continue the spin; suddenly there's a dull thud, a collision, and I'm aware that I'm rolling over…slowly. My cell phone sails past me, and I release one hand from the wheel to try to catch it. I should call work and let them know I'll be late, I think to myself. I'm in the middle of nowhere, haven't seen a car since turning onto this dirt road. The car has landed on the driver's side. I can't move…I'm still strapped in. I feel strange but in no pain. I'm trying to rationalize what just happened…Where is that cell phone?
The only escape I can see is through the passenger door which now serves as my roof. As I grope to free myself from the locked safety strap across my chest, bright lights shine in front of me, and I flash my lights for attention and say a quiet “Thank you, God.” A stranger runs over and asks, “Are you all right?” “I'm fine thanks,” I answer. “I just need help climbing out the passenger window and my cell…”
“I'll get help,” he says and runs off! Great! Where is he going to find help in this field; I just needed to get out of the seat belt. I struggle to climb out; then I hear, “I got another guy.” He's back?!! “We think we can just roll you over; just hang onto the steering wheel and on the count of three we'll lift the car.” Is he kidding? With no time to think I hear, “2—3—Heave,” and then the roll, nearly turning over to the other side but the car settles on all four tires! I'm still holding the steering wheel and am dumbfounded. Before I can gather my thoughts, he opens the car door and tells me to sit still so he can check for injuries. “There's not a thing wrong with me,” I say in total disbelief and get out of the car to prove it to the three of us.
I ask their names and offer something for their wonderful assistance. Of course, they would not hear of it. “Where were you coming from at this time of the morning?” Daniel asks. I tell him I was on my way to work. They both smile, and Daniel says “You're headed in the wrong direction.” I describe the spinning, and he checks the road for tracks. “Sure looks like someone spun a lot around here,” he agrees. “You are one blessed lady. You came to a stop at the only sand pile around. Guess that's what knocked you over.”
Gerry comes up and takes both of my hands in his. I'm taken back by the sincere look of concern showing in his eyes. He interrupts my stare. “I have a message for you from God.” Embarrassed, I question, “You do?” He continues, “God wants you to slow down,” he urges, “and to remember he is with you; keep him close in your heart.” What a sweet young man, I think. “Thank you! I know I keep him and the angels mighty busy,” I say awkwardly. Daniel then interrupts, “If you're going to work, we'll make sure you turn your car around alright; there's a nasty accident up ahead, and the cops aren't there yet. I trust they'll be putting up a road block soon so you'd better go before they do.” I agree, and as I turn around, I roll the window down to smile and wave a final thank you…but I don't see them. I check my rear view mirror for truck lights, and it is dark. “WOW! They sure left in a hurry,” I say to myself as I head down the road.
A few minutes later I turn off the detour trail onto the main road as I pass the accident and just down the road I see the police car approaching. Made it just in time, Daniel was right. Wait a minute! My senses seem to be returning as the reality of the situation set in. Daniel knew about the accident that I just passed. The rig should have been following me. Why did I never see the lights again? How did they know the police would not be there yet? Where, in fact, did they suddenly come from…and the message from God? Was that for real? No, no, no, of course not, my car and I are great; I have no pain whatsoever. Sometimes when I drive, I wander in thought a bit, and before I know it, I wonder how I got there. It is early in the morning; did I take a quick cat nap and have a major dream? WOW! That was surreal!
Dawn is breaking as I park my car. I pick up my cell phone from the floor, close the door, and check the driver's side as I lock it. It looks good. I'll just have to get a new side mirror and minor paint touch up, and it'll be good as new! I'm only seven minutes late for work; it's going to be a great day. I've been touched by angels in a rig.
My husband was a trucker, and he told me many times before he passed on, “If you're ever on the road by yourself and are in trouble, seek out a trucker. They're the angels of the road and always willing to help someone in distress.” No doubt my angels were truckers in disguise.
| My Lady in White |
Edmund Rydell
Virgin Islands
Blog: www.spirithoughts.com
Author of Eternity Revealed
In the winter my wife and I reside in St. John in the US Virgin Islands. I had been to St. Thomas for some minor medical work and was on my way back to St. John. It was rather late in the afternoon because my doctor had asked me to wait until he had seen his other patients before performing this simple dermatological procedure. I was walking along the street that led to the main thoroughfare along which the open-air shuttle bus that went to the ferry dock would be running. It was past the rush hour; the street was deserted. There was no one on the sidewalks, and only an occasional car would come by.
Rather suddenly I became aware of a figure making her way toward me on the sidewalk, which, strangely enough, I had not noticed before. She was actually only a few yards from me. She was not young. She was dark skinned and was wearing a long dress which completely covered her legs and feet. Her jacket was tightfitting with long sleeves. It had a row of little white cloth buttons up the front that led to a high collar. Her head was covered with some sort of headdress so that I was not aware of her hair. The whole costume was white or sort of a silver-white.
From the time I first noticed her, she was looking straight at me and continued holding me in eye contact
