Parting the Red Sea PT 2
The flight attendent shut the door to the small commuter jet as I took my seat. I had made it! I never had time to call my brother to see if my dad was still with us. People were laughing and talking all around me as we took off. I looked out the window and silently prayed. Please God-I got this far. Let me say goodbye to my Dad.
The voice of the enemy was loud. "You'll never make it! Don't you remember the people you've known who tried this? Their parent died while they were stuck in some airport! You are a loser! Things like this never work for you! .....You don't have the money for this! .....What about the rental car-you can't afford it!!! ......And when you land there will be the rush hour traffic! THIS IS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA YOU FOOL!"
I shook myself and and silently repeated a verse I memorized years ago: Greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world. But my stomach clenched as we approached the airport. I looked down from the plane at eastbound Interstate 10, the freeway I would have to take. It was a parking lot of course at 5:30 pm. I gritted my teeth and waited.
When I got into the airport I headed for the rental car desk. As I walked I called my brother on my cell, bracing for the news that my father was dead. "He's still with us Rob! " my brother said excitedly. "He knows your coming! The hospice people are amazed-he's waiting for you. But you know the traffic-you probably won't get here for almost 2 hours..."
I rented a car as fast as I could and headed for the freeway. As my vision blurred with tears as I imagined what was to come, I turned onto the onramp. Traffic slowed as I got on and then cleared up. As I sped up to 65mph I could see clear lanes ahead! Well, at least I had a little bit of fortune, but I knew it wouldn't last. How frustrating to be so close but so far! Up ahead, a cloud of dust rolled up into the sky as the traffic slowed to a crawl. "Here we go.." I groaned inwardly. "An accident. That's it then." My stomach churned. But suddenly the traffic cleared. It wasn't an accident and I was back up to speed. As mile after mile went by my hope and amazement grew.
The traffic disappeared! For the next 60 miles I sped along and made it in half the time! When I entered the room all heads turned in disbelief when they saw it was me.
"How in the world! I can't believe it....." blurted my sister-in-law. My brother hugged me as my mother cried out with joy. And my father...as I leaned over him to hug him I saw him try to smile and talk. I could see the happiness in his eyes . His mouth tried to move, probably to say something like "It's good to see you, old chum...."
My dad died a few hours later. But even as I cried, I thanked God for clearing the way, for sustaining him,.......for giving me a miracle.
The voice of the enemy was loud. "You'll never make it! Don't you remember the people you've known who tried this? Their parent died while they were stuck in some airport! You are a loser! Things like this never work for you! .....You don't have the money for this! .....What about the rental car-you can't afford it!!! ......And when you land there will be the rush hour traffic! THIS IS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA YOU FOOL!"
I shook myself and and silently repeated a verse I memorized years ago: Greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world. But my stomach clenched as we approached the airport. I looked down from the plane at eastbound Interstate 10, the freeway I would have to take. It was a parking lot of course at 5:30 pm. I gritted my teeth and waited.
When I got into the airport I headed for the rental car desk. As I walked I called my brother on my cell, bracing for the news that my father was dead. "He's still with us Rob! " my brother said excitedly. "He knows your coming! The hospice people are amazed-he's waiting for you. But you know the traffic-you probably won't get here for almost 2 hours..."
I rented a car as fast as I could and headed for the freeway. As my vision blurred with tears as I imagined what was to come, I turned onto the onramp. Traffic slowed as I got on and then cleared up. As I sped up to 65mph I could see clear lanes ahead! Well, at least I had a little bit of fortune, but I knew it wouldn't last. How frustrating to be so close but so far! Up ahead, a cloud of dust rolled up into the sky as the traffic slowed to a crawl. "Here we go.." I groaned inwardly. "An accident. That's it then." My stomach churned. But suddenly the traffic cleared. It wasn't an accident and I was back up to speed. As mile after mile went by my hope and amazement grew.
The traffic disappeared! For the next 60 miles I sped along and made it in half the time! When I entered the room all heads turned in disbelief when they saw it was me.
"How in the world! I can't believe it....." blurted my sister-in-law. My brother hugged me as my mother cried out with joy. And my father...as I leaned over him to hug him I saw him try to smile and talk. I could see the happiness in his eyes . His mouth tried to move, probably to say something like "It's good to see you, old chum...."
My dad died a few hours later. But even as I cried, I thanked God for clearing the way, for sustaining him,.......for giving me a miracle.
posted by Rob | 11:36 AM
3 Comments:
Professional Online Networking: Act Globally o...
I recently received an email message from Scott Ingram about his new professional networking Web site Network In Austin , focused on the Austin, Texas community.
I recycle my old stuff here Collections maybe you should too
Rob... thank you so much for sharing this with me... my eyes flooded with tears.
I lived vicariously through you in this... my dad died suddenly when I was a girl and I never got to say goodbye. In you making it to say goodbye to your father, by God's grace, and sharing it with us, know that it touched my heart.
hugs,
monica
Rob,
Thank you for taking us all to such a deep place – an experience I haven’t had and am unable to imagine. Your closeness to God as you’ve gone through this journey truly humbles and amazes me. You have provided me with a real comfort and hope, that when I am someday made to let go of something truly great, I will be turning it over to someone greater. I am so grateful for all of your lessons, your wisdom, your leadership and your example. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Emily Cavanaugh
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