My car died today. Traveling home from work, my engine began squealing and then emitted white smoke, so I pulled off to the side of the road (high occupancy vehicle, center lanes), got out, and began to wait for roadside assistance.
After 30 minutes of waiting and getting somewhat miffed at the passersby, I bowed my head and prayed that God would provide someone to assist me since I was stuck between northbound and southbound lanes of 80mph traffic and could not go anywhere without help. Within mere minutes of ending that prayer, a truck pulled to the side of the road in the main lanes and offered assistance. After explaining the situation, the truck driver backed up and entered the center lanes, turned on flashing lights, and set out a flare. He then called for towing services for me. This truck driver later told me that he is a member of Bethel Freewill Baptist Church in Springfield, Virginia.
As the truck driver was getting things handled for me, another car pulled to the side of the road in front of my car. The driver got out and headed back to where I was standing. It was my brother in Christ and fellow Occoquan Bible Church member, Dave Ross. Before even asking what the trouble was, Dave told me that his car was at my disposal for the evening and he would see to it that everything was taken care of and would get me home when everything was done. He then called his brother who lives there in the area to ask if I could leave my car at his place until I could take it to a repair shop. This kept me from having to pay a huge amount for towing all the way to my house (44 miles away).
After a long wait (well over an hour), the tow truck showed up and towed the truck to Dave's brother's house. Dave's brother was amazingly accomodating—even moving his car so I could park my car in his driveway for the rest of the week.
After the tow truck driver had finished his work, I approached him to pay for the towing services. He said, "It's already taken care of," and indicated that Dave had made payment already. I asked Dave how much I owed him and he refused to take payment for it. He said that God has blessed him and he wanted to do this for me. I was so moved by this evidence of Christian love and charity that I can't even explain it.
Dave then drove me all the way to my home, many miles past where he lives, at which time he had to turn around and head home—many hours after he would normally have arrived home to spend the evening with his family.
I don't know how people get along in the world outside the family of God. How blessed we are to be counted among God's chosen ones.
