Short Stories

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It is a summer day, in a year that really hasn't any consequence. But it will stand out as a day that will forever live in the confines of my mind, my heart and my soul...

As a caregiver to the elderly, I am sometimes called upon to bring my clients to medical appointments. And so, I have gone to my client's house to pick her up and take her to see her doctor...

When we arrive at the medical faciity, I must park my car across the street, and almost a block from the facility. As I am walking her towards the building, I can't help but notice that this section of the city is in an area in which you would not want to frequent unless you absolutely had to. Parts of our city has been declining due to gangs, drugs, violence and just the overall process that represents what is taking place in our culture...

She and I are in a good mood, she is looking forward to this doctor's appointment, she is in relatively good health and this is more of a routine visit than for any other reason...

After the visit, as we are getting ready to leave the facility, we stop and buy some cookies from a vendor located within the building, and then walk out the entrance and down the steps, to the sidewalk. As we are doing this, we are talking, but I happen to notice that a car is parked right in front of this facility on the street with four young men in it, and the engine turned off. I notice that they stare at us intently, but do not give this moment, any more thought...

As she and I are walking along, we are laughing and talking, but I happen to hear the engine of this car start up, and within seconds the car is now slowly keeping pace with us. I notice it out of the corner of my eye, but I have not really connected any danger in my mind, at this point...

As we walk along, I notice the streets are empty, there isn't anyone else around. I haven't really taken this into account, and I should have...

My client is in her early eighties, and she is doing her best to walk along with me. I have wrapped my right arm around her left, to steady her as we walk. The car with the four young men in it has still been keeping pace with us, and so I tell my client we are being followed, and can she walk any faster. She and I try to step up our pace, but as we do so, this car also does likewise...

I remember stopping for a moment, and turning to look back towards the medical facility and realize we have now gone to far for me to turn around and get her back in the building. It is almost as if we have reached "The Point of No Return", being that we cannot turn back, and also that I can see my car ahead in the distance...

Now, the hard realization that we are in danger has hit me, and my first thought is that I must protect my client no matter what. My second thought is that I now have begun to pray to the Lord for help. I begin thinking how to handle this situation should the car stop and they approach us. Being that I have never been a person to backdown in a confrontation, I also know I cannot hold my ground against four men at onetime...

I do not allow my client to know my thoughts, instead trying to keep our conversation on anything but this situation, but now I am faced with the truth of the moment, because we have reached the end of the sidewalk, and literally, "The End of the Road"...

In order to get her to my car, I must cross the street in front of this car with these young men in it, and I know in my heart I cannot do this...

In all of our lives, we have "defining moments", and this will now become such a moment in my life. As we stand at the end of the sidewalk, I hear in the distance the sound of a police siren, but I am thinking that they are too far away to help us. And then, I tighten my grip on my client's arm, and make a decision, that will either "make or break" this moment...

I turn and face this car, which has now stopped. I do not feel any fear at this moment, and I look not just at the car, but right into the eyes of these men, while they in turn, are looking into mine. Now, the moment belongs not just to myself, my client, these men, but to the Lord...

If the sum total of existance in our lives is counted down in seconds, these will remain the longest in my life. All around me life has seemed to come to a halt, and I wait, wait upon the Lord...

Suddenly, the driver of the car hits the gas and the car speeds off down the street and out of sight. And I know that the Lord has made his move...

I quickly cross the street with my client, get her and I into my car, and drive away. And all the time, as I am driving I am silently thanking Our Lord for his intervention, in a situation that could have turned out very badly...

"Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me"... Psalm 56:9 NIV

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