THUNDERSTORM CAUSES ACCIDENT

The thunderstorm was what caused it!

I was driving alone late at night on an interstate. I noticed lightning ahead. I gave it little thought, except to wonder if I would have to drive into a storm. But, thankfully, the storm was moving fast and was soon gone before I could reach it, but the highway was wet so I slowed the car.

Suddenly, I felt the car hit deep water on the highway. My tires were shooting water everywhere, even covering my windshield. Worse, the deep water was causing my tires to lose traction.

The words, “Help me, Lord,” were on my lips as I realized a feeling of total helplessness. I knew I had absolutely no control of the car. I tried desperately to keep the car moving straight ahead, but it was sliding and weaving all over the highway. I pumped the brakes, slowing the car even more, but I was not able to stop it.

In a moment of panic, I saw that my car was going off the highway. With the car almost, but not quite, stopped, I went off into a water filled ditch. The car finally stopped with only the front of the car in the water. Immediately water began seeping in, quickly covering my legs. As I got out of the car and waded out of the water, another motorist came and helped me get to a telephone to call a wrecker.

Looking back, my main impression of the incident was a feeling of helplessness. I like to be in control—as we all do—but there was no control that night!

Life is often like my experience on the flooded highway. Things happen to us unexpectedly and suddenly. Darkness hides our future, and we are unable to see the water on our pathway. Unforeseen circumstances may cause us to lose control of our lives.

What can we do? God speaks to us about this in Proverbs 3:5-6; "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

FOLLOWING GOD'S DIRECTION

Years ago, I found myself without an income. I had labored for eight years as a minister of music and education in a church, only to be judged by some in that church as too old to minister effectively. After all, I was fifty-nine years old!

Because of the attitude of some of the members, I was left with no income. Fortunately, I had housing. My mother's small house in my hometown was available to us, so we made the move, not knowing how God would provide for us.

It seemed to me something like the experience of Abraham, who was instructed by God to "a place where I will show you." And like Abraham, God provided all that we needed. Within two months my wife and I were both gainfully employed, and our grandson, whom we were raising, was happy with new friends.

To add to all this, within two months a local church had called me to be a bi-vocational minister of music—even at my "advanced age." And, this has been one of the most rewarding ministries of my life. In fact, I am at this point still ministering to this great church twenty years later. Age? They say, no problem.

"By faith Abraham obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." Hebrews 11:8