Jim anticipated my arrival while he had breakfast in the hospital and wouldn’t eat until I got there. One morning, when he greeted me loudly with “Ruthie Babe”! I nearly fell over with surprise. He never called me that. The nurses were amused, not ever hearing ‘the Reverand’ being that loud. “That’s a story from years ago”, I explained. They wanted to hear it, and Jim, all smiles, was just as eager for the replay. The strange thing to me was how he could recall a funny account of a ‘happening to me’ seventeen years ago that pertained to Ruthie Babe.
As I flew alone from Pennsylvania to Columbus, Ohio for my dad’s funeral. My seatmate, Gary, a young scientist, shared some interesting aspects about his career. When we were close to landing, he asked, “By the way, where are you headed?” I said, “Chillicothe for my dad’s funeral.”
“How are you getting there,” he inquired. I said, “Well, I hadn’t even figured that part out. Maybe a bus.” Gary said, ”I’m headed to Chillicothe and would be glad to give you a ride. It’s just 50 miles.” “That would be wonderful, Gary.” I thought to myself, God certainly provides for my every need.
As I pulled my luggage toward the desk, I heard someone call, “Ruthie Babe, Ruthie Babe,” There’s only one person in the whole world who ever called me Ruthie Babe; it had to be Laddie Sherman, a classmate and church friend whom I hadn’t seen for at least 20 years. We were both surprised and glad to see each other, and hugged hello. I had no idea, until I saw his uniform, that he was an employee of the Columbus Airport. “I assume you’re going to Chillicothe”, Laddie said. “Yes, my dad’s funeral is tomorrow.” “How are you getting to Chillicothe?” he asked. “My seatmate, Gary, is going to Chillicothe on business and offered me a ride.” “Oh no!” Laddie declared. “We’re not doing that!”
About that time, Gary joined us, and I introduced him to Laddie. But he insisted “You can’t take her”. “It’s no trouble”, Gary said. “It’s where I’m headed.” Laddie was totally frustrated and obviously felt responsible for my safety, which I appreciated.
“It’s okay, Laddie,” I’ve talked with Gary long enough to know that he’s trustworthy. I appreciate your concern for my safety.” Gary and I left the terminal. Everything went well.
When I returned home and shared with Jim about hearing “Ruthie Babe” several times, and seeing Laddie, he had a good laugh. He understood Laddie’s desire to protect me. That was the end of the story. Never did I dream that Jim had stored away in his brain the event that I experienced seventeen years ago. I never discussed it again and now I’m writing about it.
Evidently, Jim saw in Laddie and Gary his own willingness to be alert regarding friends, relatives and strangers who may need assistance. From this experience, I became newly impressed with the unknown protections that exist around us. Both Gary and Laddie were concerned about my safety
The ‘unknown protection’ triggered other memories from years ago when we visited our best friends, Gwen and Dan Zachary. We met them a few days after we were married when we visited the church that they were members of. Our friendship blossomed. Dan was in the Air Force, stationed in Waco, Texas where Jim was enrolled in Baylor College. They were scheduled to be in Waco for a longer time which gave us plenty of time to get very well acquainted. We visited them everywhere except Hawaii, and they, in turn, came to our various church fields. Their five children and our four were close in age and very congenial. As one of our visits was over, Dan was saying a final goodbye at Jim’s driver’s window, he looked back at how our kids and luggage were packed-in and remarked, “Jim, you need a luggage carrier for the top of your car” and handed Jim a handful of bills. When we got home, we purchased a luggage carrier for the top of the car as he suggested.
Dan is an illustration of unknown safety. That conversation of his concern and generosity is etched in my heart. I’ve been reminded of other proofs of unknown safety and provision like the fellow traveler shopper, standing behind me at the grocery checkout, observing that I had insufficient funds, handed the cashier a couple of dollars and said, “Finish her order,” I was surprised and impressed.
Providing unknown protection and assistance is a two-way street. Our children and I have vivid memories of, not only our having serious car trouble on road trips, but for travelers who have pulled to the side of the road with problems, and Jim stopping to fix a tire or something else and helping them get help. Jim’s protection attitude was always on whether he was on vacation or just leaving the church dressed in suit and tie. Many Sundays, I would see him looking under the hood of someone’s car or changing a tire for someone. He carried work clothes in the trunk.
In an earlier early blog, I described the time we were stranded on a busy highway in Tennessee where I was scheduled to have an interview and a serious problem with our car stopped our progress. A trucker pulled over to help us and let me use his phone to call my friend. (that was before cellphones). In 20 minutes, Johnnie drove up ladened with hamburgers and milkshakes, and when it became obvious that our car needed serious axle repair, Johnnie invited my mom, our daughter and me to their house, knowing it would be an overnight problem. That protection was a Godsend. Jim often said that you can’t call it car problems unless it costs a night. In all our years of travel, this was our only experience of an overnight car problem.
More recently, when Jim and I were at the Ward Lakehouse in Southwest Texas, taking our final boat ride at sunset before travelling North, we heard a nearby boat with motor problems. We indicated that we were aware of their problems and headed their way. Jim was not only concerned about their safety but was able to get into their boat and fix the motor. They sped away and we headed to the dock.
Think of an experience when someone, perhaps a stranger, helped you? Sometimes, it’s something as simple as a grocery sack splitting and items go rolling, and strangers help to collect the items. Generally, people are delighted to give a fellow shopper a hand.
We’ve experienced, as many of you probably have, strangers on the road coming to our aid, whether we have tire-trouble or are merely out of gas. Take time to reminisce about your experiences of being helped by those who perhaps you knew or complete strangers who came to your aid.
PS. 32:7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Prov. 2:11 Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.
Isa. 41:13 For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do /not fear; I will help you. (Niv).
Heb. 4:16:Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. (NAS)
John. 17:11 Jesus prayed: I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you, Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me…(Niv).