Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Car Trip (07/18/05)
-
TITLE: Strangers on Assignment | Previous Challenge Entry
By Shirley Thomas
07/22/05 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
“Looks like I won’t be getting there any time soon.” Travis thought to himself.
Travis looked under the hood of his truck and knew there was a serious problem. It was a ten-mile walk either direction. He knew that if he was 59 instead of 79, he could make the walk easily; but with his arthritis, walking ten miles was not an option.
Travis began to do the only thing he knew to do; he prayed, “Lord, it’s just you and me, and I’m aware of my limitations, but I’m just as aware of your greatness. I know You can send someone down this road to help me. You’ve never let me down and I know today is not going to be any different. I’m going to sit under this tree you’ve provided for me and wait until You send someone.”
Five miles away Michael and Nancy Benson were riding down a deserted road that was as silent as their conversation. A few minutes earlier, the conversation had been intense with heated anger. For the last six months of their marriage they could barely stay in the same room for more than ten minutes without having an argument.
“Why didn’t you stay on the interstate?” Nancy impatiently asked.
“I saw a road sign and it promised some interesting sightseeing. I thought you might enjoy a road trip, but I was wrong again! I can’t seem to please you anymore; but don’t worry as soon as I see the next main highway we’ll be on it.” Michael said.
“Me, hard to please! You’re the one that is never satisfied with anything I do. The only reason I came on this awful trip was to please you and look at us, we’re arguing more than ever!” Nancy replied.
They were silent again, with only the noise of a single car traveling down a deserted country road. They were both thinking the same thing, “God, what has happened to us?”
Just as they rounded the dusty curve in the road, they spotted the pick-up truck on the side of the road, with Travis sitting under the tree.
“That’s great! An old man with a broken down truck.” Michael grunted.
“You don’t have to stop. He could be a dangerous criminal.” said Nancy.
“We can’t leave him, there’s nothing within ten miles of here. We have to stop.” Michael replied.
Travis saw the red sedan stop and began to silently thank the Lord. Nancy and Michael asked how they could help him. He told them he needed a ride to his friend’s house and he would call for help from there.
Travis told them about his wife and how much he missed her. He said, “My wife and me made a promise to each other and to God the day we married. We decided if it seemed like an argument was about to take place, we’d step back, look at the situation and decide if it was something that was going to make a difference in ten years….if not, it wasn’t worth arguing over. Saved us many an argument.”
They arrived at Martin’s house and they began to say their good-byes.
Travis said, “You know you were an answer to an old man’s prayer.” You make a good team! God needs team players to help Him! You two enjoy the rest of your road trip.”
Nancy and Michael were silent as they drove away, but for different reasons now. They were both thinking how God not only answered Travis’ prayer but theirs also. Twelve years ago, they had made a pledge to each other and to God, to not only be partners, but to be a team, too. They had been a team with one purpose, to serve their God. They realized today, they were still partners on His team.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
