Bird's Eye View

My predicament was not a life or death situation. There was no emergency or danger. The problem was merely an annoyance. I was sitting at an intersection in my little Chevette, stuck on a patch of ice. I was surrounded by stores I could get to easily for help. It wasn’t even that cold outside. But as my wheels kept spinning all I could think was, “C’mon, God, I don’t have time for this.”

Soon I spotted an elderly man walking toward my car. His long, white beard and disheveled appearance made me a little nervous to roll down my window.

“Hey, how about if I give you a little push,” he asked, “it wouldn’t take much.”

I knew he was right, but I wasn’t certain he had it in him.

He walked to the rear of my car and disappeared behind the bumper. In an instant, nagging doubts flooded my mind. Can he really do this? Should he? Maybe I should push and let him drive, but how do I know he won’t drive off with my car? I don’t want to make him feel bad by refusing his help, but I don’t want to kill the guy either.

“Okay, give it a little gas,” he yelled.

Letting urgency win over better judgment, I cautiously stepped on the accelerator. In no time at all, I was creeping off the ice. Rounding the corner, I rolled down my window to holler back my thanks.

But he wasn’t there.

I scanned the pavement expecting to see his body in a heap and imagining how I could possibly explain myself to emergency crews, but noticed only my tire marks on the ice. I checked both ends of the crosswalk. Nothing. I looked in my rear view mirror. Absolutely no sign of the guy. He had completely vanished.

The back of my neck tingled. Could it be? Why would God send an angel for such a minor problem?

Suddenly the words of a hymn I learned in childhood made sense.

For His eyes are on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

Thank You, Lord.


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