This week was really crazy. Like, weird stuff happening every day crazy. And not just for me, but multiple people I know as well. Is it because we had a full moon? Weird chaotic pre-Friday the 13th appetizers? Both of those things combined? I’m not really superstitious, but all of what’s happened makes me really ponder what was up with this week.
Well, first, the Spring semester started up, and campus got back into hustling and bustling with students. It didn’t take long for me to miss how quiet everything was, and I’m grateful that my office is at the edge of campus where I can escape the crowds. The beginning of a new semester always seems a bit chaotic, but that still wasn’t the main reason why everything felt crazy…
We had a lot of work that needed to be wrapped up right as we got back from break. One of my colleagues, who is also a close best friend, also had some crazy work assignments pop up, so I wanted to help her out however I could. A lot of stress was building up, time seemed so much shorter. I can take that pressure, though, and I wanted to reassure her that things would be okay as we worked on things together. Her and I have gotten through a lot together before (in the 2.25 years that we’ve known each other), and I wasn’t about to let this get under our skins!
On Wednesday, in a rush to get to work, she accidentally forgot some important things at home… things I know it would be hard to go through the day without. She said she would power through, and I knew she would be able to, but I was concerned with her safety and wanted to be her support. She couldn’t just leave work to go home and get those things. Me helping her was of no question; I couldn’t not help. So, she allowed me to take her apartment key and run to her apartment for her.
I felt like I was on an important mission, somehow. That morning, I prayed that love and light would be shown to those around me, and this was an opportunity. I think it’s important to be a light to those who are close to us, because you never know when they really, truly need that encouragement and support. She’s very dear to me.
A bit later, I arrived at her apartment and found the items she needed. Her cat was there to greet me, as he typically does, and demanded my attention. I apologized to him for not being able to stay long or pet him very much, and he eventually stopped trying to trip me with every step I took.
“Feel free to get a snack or something from the cabinet! I have organic fruit roll-ups!” my friend texted me.
“Ahhh… you should save those as an after work treat! I already left your apartment anyways… thank you, though :) “ I responded.
I still wonder if something would have changed if I did take her up on that and delayed my departure a little bit.
With her items in hand, I went back out to my car and began my journey back to the UTC campus (we both work there, just different departments). I decided to take I-75 because I figured it would be faster, and pumped up Alt 93.9 on the radio as I picked up speed. The finish line was in sight, and I knew that bringing her these things would be really helpful. I couldn’t help but think about how happy I was to be friends with her and to be able to do this for someone I cared about.
There was a black SUV driving in front of me, diagonally to the left. Something flew out from under the vehicle, and I heard the bounce - it was made of metal. It was a chunk. It came right at me and I couldn’t avoid it. I felt it hit my tire, and something felt off about the car. I looked ahead as the vehicle zoomed off, unsuspecting and unknowing of what they just put into motion. I won’t deny that I said some explicit words in that moment, and I use those words very, very sparingly. Of all the times for this kind of thing to happen, it just had to be then.
Pulling over to the side of I-75 was a bit terrifying, but I carefully did and looked at my car. Just as I thought… the front left tire was flat. There was a gash in it from whatever hit me; there was also a small dent in the hubcap. Oh, and here’s another fun fact - I had just gotten new tires a month before! It was a bit of sad humor that one should go flat so soon under these circumstances. But like I said before - there was no way I wasn’t going to help my friend, and I would surely go through this for her.
“I’ll figure something out,” I told her, as I relayed what just happened. She felt awful about it and started taking blame, but all I could blame was that we live in a world where crap just happens. I was just frustrated that I was being prevented at fulfilling what I set out to do. I figured I would call home and ask one of my parents to come find me (my dad has AAA), but I also knew it would be awkward to describe my exact location on I-75. I couldn’t help but think that there was some way this was all going to resolve. “I have to get these things to her. I just have to. It can’t end like this.”
Just as I resigned myself to calling home… a Highway Incident Response unit pulled up behind me. “This is literally a miracle,” I thought to myself. Just as quickly as I had gotten a flat tire, the wonderful TDOT gentleman helped me to put on my spare tire. (The fun part is that I had a lot of stuff in my trunk to move out of the way, and he patiently waited as I unloaded things… “Do you want a Gatorade? I have some… I’m serious…” I offered haha) It was a relief that he did it for no charge as well (I guess it’s tax dollars at work), and I couldn’t help but call him an angel. I wish I had asked for his name, just to have a person to remember from that moment. It’s a real wonder when something good happens in the midst of chaos and craziness, in such timing.
From there, I made it safely back to campus and completed my mission - I gave my friend the things she needed. I was really just glad to be alive and there with her, and everything could have been so much worse. I could have gotten into a wreck, or the metal chunk could have hit something else and caused greater damage to my car. An array of things could have happened, but the reality of what actually happened still stood… as well as the reality of how it was resolved. Isn’t it interesting how fate turns out at times?
What mattered most to me, in the end, is that we were together. That I can still be together with those I care about. Car troubles really suck (I don’t say that lightly… I’ve had my share of car troubles), but we can still go on as long as we have each other. Material possessions are (often) replaceable, but people are not; she’s worth all of what I went through and more. And so I can’t help but believe that there was something Greater at work here, to make this act of love and kindness possible. I couldn’t have done it on my own.
So…when you get new tires, don’t forget to get a road hazard warranty. ^_^; And, after playing Life Is Strange, I keep having moments where I wonder what choices end up having certain consequences… but, despite the choices made in this whole scenario, nothing stood in the way of Love.
Even when things become very discouraging, we can still find hope. Remember the support of those around you in your life, and don’t take for granted the care you receive. Love is, and always will be, the most powerful force in the universe, and it was powering me through all of that. Love overcomes obstacles… and this was ultimately proven in Christ Jesus.
