The Best In Us

 










Many years back George and I were headed to St Louis where he had a conference to attend and I was joining him for a get away.  As we were driving, we encountered a traffic jam in an unexpected place along the interstate.  

This is what I recorded in my journal:

"Human nature is an amazing thing. We have been stopped in traffic - stand still traffic- for more than an hour. 

People were getting cranky. Horns were starting to beep. Some tried to creep up the shoulder to get some sort of advantage. Lots of impatience was showing, including by my dear husband. 

Finally I decided something must be up. An Internet search on my iPhone quickly turned up the cause. 

A cement truck has flipped onto another vehicle. 

Crews are desperately working to lift the truck and get to those inside clinging to hope. Lifeflight waits in our lane ever hopeful. The interstate will be shut down for at least two hours. 

We told the lady next to us who was pacing irritably. Her response was to bow her head and then go hug her son.

Word spreads quickly and soon a family of six on vacation, a businessman headed to Dallas, a lady who had just 9 hours left on her long journey home, and scads of America's truck drivers are striking up conversations, sharing cold drinks, and continually looking westward and then shaking their heads sadly at the fate of our unknown road companions. 

Suddenly no one is in a hurry, what good would it do? And besides, everyone is grateful for their own safety. 

We have been reminded that life is fragile. That those passengers flying by us in the cars we pass are real people just like us who all have stories to share. 

The life flight helicopter just raced overhead. We send our prayers their way. 

It reminds me how good people are. That they care. 

News continues to seep out. At least one passenger is dead. The driver of the cement truck hit a hole and flipped onto the SUV. 

We never know what life changes await us. The cement driver and another SUV passenger are injured. Possible survivors bring some hope from the tragedy. 

Soon enough traffic will be moving and we will be leaving this little brief stop but it has made an impression on me. Humanity still has all it needs. We just need little reminders."

As happened on this day, sometimes we just need a broader view.  

Marvin J Ashton said it this way, "Sometimes in life when we are committed to and are following proper patterns, we experience heavy bumps and anxious hours. Many times true winners in life are those who have been hurt and disappointed but have risen above these challenges. Very often in life, God gives us difficulties to bring out the best in us. It is true, life does not determine winners. Winners determine life."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Never Fall Away

Image
  In Alma chapter 23, the sons of Mosiah preached to the Lamanites. The law was declared that the word of God could not be obstructed. Note that the law did NOT say that everyone had to embrace and follow it, but their synagogues and temples and homes should be open to them. And then in verse six, something stuck out to me. Something that applies to our day. “They were converted unto the Lord and never did fall away.” NEVER DID FALL AWAY?? That sounds  like an important need in our day.   My immediate question was HOW?  So I read more closely. Verse 7: “For they became a righteous people; they did lay down the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more, neither against any of their brethren.”  They became a righteous people. They did lay down the weapons of their rebellion. They did not fight against God. They did not fight against their brethren. So what does that mean for us?  BECOME a righteous people.  Be willi
Read more

Trust

Image
  As I was riding a bike down the former train route along the Idaho-Montana border, I had hours to quietly reflect and appreciate the lush mountain landscape extending around me as far as I could see.   I was in a prayerful state, open to the promptings of the Spirit.   At one point I came to the edge of a meadow and needed to sit and rest for a bit.   There I found a lovely rustic bench made from a tree right there in the forest.  And it occurred to me how often the things we need are right there in our lives around us. The people, the resources, our talents and gifts. Psalm 34:8 lovingly promises “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him”. He will provide.   And as we learn to recognize that help, we will become more grateful and happy. 
Read more

Seeing

Image
  Even after a full semester, the young 7th grader, who I will call Anna, didn’t seem to have any friends. She said didn’t mind and felt anxious around people.   I rotated her through groups and she would participate as directed but rarely smiled, although she didn’t seem particularly sad or distraught either.   More of an acceptance that this was her life. She didn’t ever talk back or ask questions but she also didn’t complete assignments quite right.  Her other teachers also said that she didn’t follow directions well.   I was patient.  Building trust.  With her and within our classroom.  This had to be a safe place to share the hard parts. And two months ago she finally told me.  She couldn’t see the board.   As in she couldn’t read it without getting within 6 inches of the board! I immediately emailed our school nurse who gave her a screening.  When I asked Anna she said that the test was fine. But the troubles persisted and finally I reached out to her mom and expla
Read more