Sorry I Couldn't Make It

One of my fears became reality this past week. I was on my way to the church after school to help prepare for the Missions Conference that night. I was sitting in traffic in the center lane on Hwy. 280, at about 4:15 pm, when my car stalled. Let me repeat that: 4:15 pm, center lane on Hwy. 280, car stalls. I have driven by numerous poor souls who have just been sitting in their car on the interstate or Hwy. 280 as others pass them by and I have felt so sorry for them. I have even said prayers thanking God that it wasn't me.

This time, it was me. The first thing I did was chuckle a little, followed by picking up my phone and calling Whitney. I'm not sure why I called her first except I knew she would laugh along with me. When she didn't answer, I called 911. The Mountain Brook dispatcher laughed a little with me as I apologized for calling her, not knowing what else to do. I gave her my name and she said she would send a patrol car right over. In the mean time, cars with their irritated drivers sped past (it seemed as though they thought I might have been sitting in the center lane, blocking traffic just for the heck of it), and I made a few more calls: one to John Mark Patrick who was going to come pick me up, and one to my dad, who I knew couldn't do much because he was out of town, but I needed his voice of wisdom anyway.

While talking to my daddy, I tried to start my car again, and this time it cranked! I moved to the side of the road to wait for John Mark. As I pulled off the road, my phone and it was the dispatcher. "Julie, this is the Mountain Brook dispatcher. Are you ok?" She sounded concerned. I assured her that I was fine and told her about my car starting. Again, she asked if I was ok. Turns out that someone had called to report a stalled car in the middle of 280 and the driver was slumped over the steering wheel. We both laughed, again and about that time, the police officer pulled up. Long story short, John Mark got there and followed me to Armstrong's in Cahaba Heights (shameless plug) where I left my car for observation and repair. Two days and not-as-much-money-as-I-thought later, I got my car back.

I am so grateful to Shea and John Mark who allowed me to use one of their vehicles while mine was being fixed. The Lord was so gracious to provide for me during the whole thing. I faced one of my fears this week and everything turned out just fine.