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God's Guiding Hand
By Glenis Lindley
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| Photo: Stockxpert |
Many things in our everyday lives are taken for granted, but occasionally we're stopped in our tracks. Suddenly, we again realize there is a loving God who watches over us!
The day was a typical Monday and my husband, Ken, had set out to do a few routine maintenance jobs at some of his investment properties. Since his retirement, days have been happily spent catching up on previously neglected and overlooked odd jobs.
His destination was an apartment block a few miles from home, so with the truck loaded with grass mowing equipment and various tools, he headed off.
As Ken was driving to the planned location, on impulse he decided to stop at a closer property to give the lawns a quick trim. He unloaded the mower and was about to get started, when from behind the apartment he head the chilling cry, "Help me! I've cut my wrist!"
It was James, the new tenant, staggering toward the car, covered in blood.
My husband isn't good at the sight of blood, so when he relayed the story to me some hours later, I could still sense his shock.
Ken said, "I took one look at James's wrist and wasn't sure whether he'd slashed it himself or had had a serious accident, although he was mumbling that he'd cut it on a window and needed an ambulance—quickly!
"After a deep breath, I had another look and decided there wasn't time to wait for an ambulance. After wrapping his wrist with my T-shirt and instructing him to hold it tightly, I helped James into the front passenger seat and headed for the highway. I phoned for an ambulance, but the emergency service operator told me to drive straight to the hospital as all ambulances were out.
"I drove fast, honking the horn and with lights flashing, which most drivers ignored, quite oblivious to my plight as the drama worsened within the car.
"With still some way to go. I began to despair, as no one would get out of the way. The lunchtime traffic was heavy, and my progress was life threateningly slow.
"With my adrenaline kicking in (and a quiet prayer), I weaved in and out of fellow motorists, thankful that the hospital emergency crew was on standby.
"It seemed an eternity, but soon we were only a couple of miles away. More moaning and groaning sound from James, who was gasping, 'Don't feel too good...' as he slumped forward in his seat. Desperation increased on my part!
"Approaching a notoriously busy intersection, it was my turn to moan 'Oh, no!' as the traffic lights turned yellow.
"I quickly checked left and right, contemplating the risk of driving through the red light when in my rearview mirror I spotted a car with lights on the roof.
"As luck would have it—or was that Divine intervention?—the vehicle drew right along side me. I lowered my window to ask if the driver would give me an escort to the hospital.
"'No,' he said, 'I can do better than that. We're from CareFlight.'
"Moments later, with our vehicles parked by the side of a busy road, out stepped a doctor and paramedic with all the necessary life-saving equipment.
"By this time, James had lapsed into unconsciousness and was not looking good. The two medics went to work. But what an unusual sight we presented on the sidewalk—me in board shorts and work boots holding an IV drip and the two men kneeling over James.
"He slowly began to respond.
"The paramedics called in an ambulance, and within minutes James was aboard, accompanied by the doctor.
"I contacted his partner, Melissa, and offered to bring her downtown to the hospital. On the way to get her, I said another prayer, this time that no one would take my mower and tools, which I had abandoned on the sidewalk.
"James was soon released from the hospital, so I drove him and Melissa home and passed the place where James had come within a heartbeat of losing his life. He had no recollection of events after getting into the car."
But there's more to the story. James was an alcoholic and had consumed a considerable quantity of wine when he staggered home drunk about the time my husband dropped in to mow the lawn.
Having misplaced his door key, he went to a window and tried to force it open, hence the severe gash on his arm and wrist.
No one else living in the apartment complex was home. Had Ken not arrived when he did, James would likely have bled to death, such was the severity of his wound. And it's no small miracle that Ken himself didn't pass out when he saw the blood! He says he felt he'd been empowered with an unnatural strength to cope.
Then there was the inconvenient red light as James passed out, allowing a fully equipped CareFlight vehicle to pull right alongside. It was a story full of miracles, in my estimation. It was probably no small miracle, given the nature of society, that Ken's mower and tools left on the roadside were still there after several hours!
And, finally, James is attending Alcoholics Anonymous, something he'd refused to do till then, and he's finding a purpose in life.
I believe God master-minded my husband's change of routine and the ensuing events. God has a plan for every one of His children!
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