A Thanksgiving Miracle
Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 9:47 pm
This is a true story, though, most of you will think I'm making it up.
Yesterday was hectic to say the least, I had a sick family and several pressing commitments, an unexpected one being to take over Thanksgiving shopping at the last minute due to family illness. But I had no time. After work, I had to take one of our cars in to get work done and this had been put off to the point where I was now out of time and wouldn't make registration if it were put off any longer. The holiday window was really the only time I could do this anyway, as the shop needs to keep the car a few days, and the Thanksgiving holiday gives us a week with no school. But I had to get in and get out quickly, else lose my window for shopping. You see, I was restricted to one store due to a unique brand they carry that my wife insists on buying, and they close a little early on Thanksgiving eve. I tried to rush home from work, but the holiday traffic was the worst I'd ever seen it. Then there was getting gas for the car I had to take in, getting cash for the cab ride home, and grabbing a quick lunch as I hadn't had time to eat that day at all. And nothing was fast, given the traffic. The shop was out of the way, and it took me nearly an hour to get there instead of the anticipated twenty minutes. Then there were more delays with assessment, negotiation, and so on. Finally, all was finished, but it was really getting late now, and I had to call a cab. The guy at the shop was worried cabs would be in short supply, and probably have a bit of a drive to get to his shop, which is out of the way. He offered to use his office to find one, but I had a couple numbers written down from before I left.
I started walking towards the street and made a call. I explained to the guy I was in a hurry, he said he was busy as many drivers called in sick for the Holiday, but would try to get someone. Now, as I was getting closer to the street, I thought I was seeing things, it was a taxi cab, with a left-hand signal flashing, to pull into the parking lot I was standing in. I started to trail off with the guy, and wondered if this other cab appearing out of nowhere in this empty industrial zone was busy. As he pulled in, I saw him holding a cell phone and I motioned to him. Indeed, it turns out he was the guy I was talking too! We were both stunned, it was unreal, I told him where I needed to go, and he told me to get in. He then dropped off a bunch of oil to a neighbor shop and proudly told them he'd bring the car in another time, because he had a customer.
On the way home, he explained that never in all his career as a cab driver had a coincidence like this happened with him, or in any story he had ever heard of. He was an immigrant and thrilled about this situation, because it was a hefty and unexpected fare, and right in time for Thanksgiving. He testified to hard work, and explained that he couldn't understand his peers who called in sick when situations like this prove that hard work has its rewards. I paid a large sum for that cab ride, but tipped generously, and I was very happy, money wasn't a problem this year, but time was, for me. I was able to rush to the store, find all the products I needed to on the list that I was unfamiliar with, and get out before the store closed. Thanksgiving was saved.
How could there be any explanation for this story aside from God, literally, stretching out his hands and bringing together the free-market curves of supply and demand, in such a fantastic way as to save Thanksgiving, miraculously, for two people?
Consider Three things: It was Thanksgiving eve, the huge time constraints for me, and the fact that such a coincidence is so rare, the fact that it could happen at all, let alone in context of the aforementioned realities, has to be at least as rare as a Bible stopping a bullet from stopping a heart.
There must be a message here from God, and the only thing it could be, is to acknowledge him in belief, and begin life as an active member of the Church again.
Yesterday was hectic to say the least, I had a sick family and several pressing commitments, an unexpected one being to take over Thanksgiving shopping at the last minute due to family illness. But I had no time. After work, I had to take one of our cars in to get work done and this had been put off to the point where I was now out of time and wouldn't make registration if it were put off any longer. The holiday window was really the only time I could do this anyway, as the shop needs to keep the car a few days, and the Thanksgiving holiday gives us a week with no school. But I had to get in and get out quickly, else lose my window for shopping. You see, I was restricted to one store due to a unique brand they carry that my wife insists on buying, and they close a little early on Thanksgiving eve. I tried to rush home from work, but the holiday traffic was the worst I'd ever seen it. Then there was getting gas for the car I had to take in, getting cash for the cab ride home, and grabbing a quick lunch as I hadn't had time to eat that day at all. And nothing was fast, given the traffic. The shop was out of the way, and it took me nearly an hour to get there instead of the anticipated twenty minutes. Then there were more delays with assessment, negotiation, and so on. Finally, all was finished, but it was really getting late now, and I had to call a cab. The guy at the shop was worried cabs would be in short supply, and probably have a bit of a drive to get to his shop, which is out of the way. He offered to use his office to find one, but I had a couple numbers written down from before I left.
I started walking towards the street and made a call. I explained to the guy I was in a hurry, he said he was busy as many drivers called in sick for the Holiday, but would try to get someone. Now, as I was getting closer to the street, I thought I was seeing things, it was a taxi cab, with a left-hand signal flashing, to pull into the parking lot I was standing in. I started to trail off with the guy, and wondered if this other cab appearing out of nowhere in this empty industrial zone was busy. As he pulled in, I saw him holding a cell phone and I motioned to him. Indeed, it turns out he was the guy I was talking too! We were both stunned, it was unreal, I told him where I needed to go, and he told me to get in. He then dropped off a bunch of oil to a neighbor shop and proudly told them he'd bring the car in another time, because he had a customer.
On the way home, he explained that never in all his career as a cab driver had a coincidence like this happened with him, or in any story he had ever heard of. He was an immigrant and thrilled about this situation, because it was a hefty and unexpected fare, and right in time for Thanksgiving. He testified to hard work, and explained that he couldn't understand his peers who called in sick when situations like this prove that hard work has its rewards. I paid a large sum for that cab ride, but tipped generously, and I was very happy, money wasn't a problem this year, but time was, for me. I was able to rush to the store, find all the products I needed to on the list that I was unfamiliar with, and get out before the store closed. Thanksgiving was saved.
How could there be any explanation for this story aside from God, literally, stretching out his hands and bringing together the free-market curves of supply and demand, in such a fantastic way as to save Thanksgiving, miraculously, for two people?
Consider Three things: It was Thanksgiving eve, the huge time constraints for me, and the fact that such a coincidence is so rare, the fact that it could happen at all, let alone in context of the aforementioned realities, has to be at least as rare as a Bible stopping a bullet from stopping a heart.
There must be a message here from God, and the only thing it could be, is to acknowledge him in belief, and begin life as an active member of the Church again.
