There’s Got To Be an Easier Way To Get Readers – Episode Two

For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways; – Psalm 91:11

It’s been almost five years since “Episode One,” about how getting rear-ended on the highway led me to meet a young lady and give her a book. Here’s the original version of that story:

There’s Got To Be an Easier Way To Get Readers

I was once again on the road, headed for Louisville. This time I was in a car we had recently bought, and I was still getting used to all the new (to me) high-tech stuff. In 20-20 hindsight, I probably should have spent a lot more time studying the manual before doing a road trip. I had already stopped at the dealership on the way out of town, so their expert could help me get my phone connected to the system and I could get the GPS on the (bigger) screen for my trip. He did bunch of clicks, backtracked, tried a slightly different combination, and finally got the GPS up on my screen.

“Do you need to show me what you just did?” I asked.

“Na,” he said, “you’re all set.”

SPOILER ALERT: I was not all set!

I had driven for less than an hour before stopping at a fruit stand to buy some good (amazing) Michigan fruit to take back to friends and family, who have been stuck buying the week-old stuff in the grocery stores. When I got back in the car, I noticed the GPS was again not showing up. I couldn’t duplicate what the kid at the dealership had done, and finally, frustrated, I thought, Forget it, I’m going old school. I disconnected the Bluetooth, figuring I’d just use the GPS on my phone the way I always had.

But the moment I plugged the phone in to charge it, the GPS popped up on the screen – Bluetooth-less! Go figure.

Eventually I got pretty good at the high-tech guessing. Unfortunately, when I got a phone call that was now coming through the car speakers, the GPS map didn’t show on the screen until I hung up. I also couldn’t get any music on the fancy-schmancy music system without losing the map. This was going to be a long trip …

I occupied my ADHD mind with prayer, which was helpful for the first couple of hours. (There’s always plenty to pray about.) But just when I was starting to be concerned about getting sleepy, a call came in from an old friend. I decided to answer it, since I had about 80 miles to go before my next exit.

We talked, we prayed, we talked some more, and I finally said, “I think I’d better hang up, I might have an exit coming up soon.” I wasn’t sure the GPS would still “talk” to me when I wasn’t seeing the map.

Just then, I noticed the two lanes dividing, and assuming the right one must be an exit, I moved to the left lane.

Wrong.

By the time I realized the left lane was the exit, I was heading into a curve – going about 60 mph! I braked as quickly as I could, but not quickly enough. I skidded off the pavement, into the gravel, and over a small sign, accompanied by a lot of grinding noise underneath.

So much for the new car.

I got out to examine the situation, expecting the worst. There by the side of the road was a large sheet of blue plastic, a few smaller chunks of blue, and what looked like black plastic grating. I walked around the car to see where they had come from. Oddly, I saw no damage whatsoever. I also noticed the big chunk of material was a slightly different shade of blue from my car. Stupidly, I thought, Did someone in another blue car make the same mistake here? Again, I circled the car. Again, I saw no damage. All four tires seemed fine, and I saw nothing dripping from the engine.

In my prayers earlier, I had asked for my needs to be met that day. Well, I now had enough adrenaline in my system to keep any drowsiness at bay for the remaining four hours of the trip. Which turned out to be a little more than four hours …

After taking a few minutes for my breathing and heartrate to return to as close to normal as possible, I drove a little farther, stopped, and again got out to check the tires and under the car. Still okay, just a slight dripping, I figured from the AC. But of course, my writer’s imagination was creating scenarios of a gasoline leak, causing the car to catch fire and explode, etc. Dang.

This seemed like a good time to try the new (to me) voice system. I pushed the “talk” button and said with as much authority as I could muster: “Find the nearest car repair shop.”

“There’s a Midas 9 minutes away,” the cheery voice replied, then added, “Let’s go!” as the GPS map adjusted to show a new destination. (How can she be so calm at a time like this?)

It seemed I had more to pray about now. Even getting my oil changed, I’d experienced what I call the “We-couldn’t-help-noticing” modus operandi of auto mechanics. I could just imagine what they’d tell me now – a female, alone, far from home, at the mercy of “experts,” with some yet-to-be-disclosed damage, and still a bit shaken.

“Well, ma’am, you’ve punctured the rear-wheel distributor, and alternator fluid is leaking. We’ll need to cap the carburetor, adjust the placebo, and replace the occipital differentiator. We can get to it a week from next Friday, and it’ll be about $4000.”

Lord, please let me find someone honest. – Or make them be honest!

I saw a couple of car repair shops on the way, but I instinctively passed them by and went to the one where I was being directed. I’m glad I did, because the most interesting part of my trip was about to transpire …

Prayer: Lord, trusting You has been such an adventure. Even when circumstances seem out of control and I have royally messed up, You’re working out Your plan for me. Thank You that I can trust I won’t leave this world a moment before it is accomplished. In Jesus’ name, Amen.