73 ~ Right Place Right Time

By Kay Heitsch

I was still working part-time for the public schools and at the nursery school at the church.

Things had been going along reasonably well with the brokerage firm. Every month, agents were expected to meet a quota. The quota was raised each month, and the salary was cut. Things were very tight, but we were making it.

I was at the church when Bill called. He wanted to let me know that he had not met his quota at the brokerage firm, and this job was over. This news was not what I expected to hear. I was feeling sad and confused.

Since God had opened this door, the very night Bill left his 27-year job, I thought this job must be the one God had for him.

I left the church and started for home. Tears were burning my eyes, and I drove right past the entrance to our house.

As I drove along, I noticed a line of traffic. Everyone was waiting for a train to cross. For some reason, it was hardly moving. People were getting upset and turning around. I should have, but I didn't.

As I sat there waiting for the train to pass, I began talking to God. I needed to calm down. Praying was helping. Finally, the train passed, and we were moving.

Suddenly, in my rear-view mirror, I saw an older woman stumble into a ditch on the side of the road and then walk out of it. Something was obviously wrong, but no one stopped to help. So I went back.

Though frightened, she came over when I called out to her. She said she was lost, having gone to a convenience store for a paper and becoming disoriented. I offered to help her retrace her steps, so she climbed into the van, and we soon discovered that she had taken a wrong turn at a three-way street.

Together, we located her daughter's apartment, where she was staying, and her invitation for coffee soon led to a long conversation about her own life and the recent events that had affected her.

Now relaxed and in familiar surroundings, Mary introduced herself and told me that her husband had died recently and that she was visiting her daughter to figure out what to do next. As Mary shared her apprehensions about her future, I did the same.

When I got ready to leave, I experienced a flash of insight. God did care and understand. Look at what just happened: I was delayed in traffic, I saw a total stranger at the exact instant she tumbled into the ditch, and then I went back to help when no one else seemed to notice. As I said goodbye, I hugged Mary.

If the God of the Universe cared enough to put me where I could help her at the exact instant she needed help, then neither one of us should have any fears about the future. God would send us the support we each needed, at the perfect time, just as He had done this day.

Once again, God was bringing something good out of an upsetting situation.