EDITOR'S NOTE: The Times Free Press is continuing a series of stories from readers about life experiences they attribute to divine intervention. We'll publish another each week as your stories continue to arrive. If you have a God Thing to share, email Life@timesfreepress.com, or mail to Life Department, Chattanooga Times Free Press, 400 E. 11th St., Chattanooga, TN 37403.
This week, Joan Trantham of Whitwell, Tennessee, describes an encounter that led her to believe there are angels among us.
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My story is not dramatic, outstanding, nor of importance to anyone else, but I would like to share an event that has meant a lot to me over the years.
On a foggy morning several years ago, I drove to work at a shop in Jasper, Tennessee, hopped out of the car, unlocked the store door, entered, completed my day's work and went back out the door to head for home. I put the key in the ignition, pressed the accelerator, nothing. Guess what? At that time, automobile makers had not perfected that wonderful option of having a beep sound when you removed the key before turning the headlights off.
Yes, the battery was dead. There would be no fast trip home to get ready for a community revival at a nearby church that evening. In desperation, I phoned a fine young man who had an auto shop in the next block, and he rushed over to jump off the car. Hooray! Then a quick stop for milk, out that door and into the car to zoom home. Wrong! I had not driven enough mileage to allow the battery to charge up for more service.
I was sitting on the corner at a loss for what to do when an older, dark green pickup truck pulled up. "Can I help you, lady?" What an appreciated gesture that was to a damsel in distress. After yet another jump-off, I dashed home, grabbed a bite to eat, changed clothes and tore out to revival, arriving on time.
The pickup truck was none I had ever seen before, I didn't know the man driving it, and I have seen neither since that night.
Now you understand why the band Alabama's song "Angels Among Us" is near and dear to my heart. I'll never forget that night and event until I draw my last breath.
- Joan Trantham