Chapter XV
A New Day on the Road
The next day, Friday
was a new day for us. It was a
beautiful morning and left nothing to the imagination that the day
might not be as great as well.
Everyone was back to
normal after the last two hectic days getting the coach repaired and
having to travel through the night to get to Alexandria. No one knew what had happened the
night before as I had not shared it with anyone.
To listen to the
choir make their presentation to the First Baptist Church in Alexandria
you would never have known they had faced anything but an ideal
traveling conditions. They were
sharp and clear in their presentation.
I had caught up with
my sleep and was well rested.
Our schedule today would be relatively light. It consisted of two concerts, one in
the Pentagon and the other in the Russell Senate Building. After the concerts, the kids would be
released for free time on the Washington National Mall.
Washington, DC is
the capital city of our country. Washington, DC, formally the District of Columbia and
commonly referred to as Washington,
"the District",
or simply DC, is the
capital of the United States. The signing of the Residence Act on July
16, 1790, approved the creation of a capital district located along the
Potomac River on the country's East Coast.
At the close of the
day, we stopped for our evening meal and returned to the motel for the
evening. The kids were tired but
ready to go for anything exciting.
They eventually settled down as they knew the next day would be
even more rewarding.
The next day met
their expectations. It was July
the 4th and where better to celebrate the birth of our
nation than in the capital city itself.
Every corner, every nook, and cranny was covered in red, white,
and blue.
It was agreed that
the youth would gather near the middle of the National Mall in the
afternoon for the traditional live military band concert. The Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air
Force bands perform on alternating days throughout the summer since
1863.
At the end of the
presentation, and with the day drawing to a close, we were treated to
one of the most incredible fireworks displays produced. Only in Washington will you get the
best of the best.
Everyone left the
Mall that day proud to be an American.
The history; the Smithsonian museums; the bands; the music; and
the firework displays had moved all to a sense of patriotism.
By the time we
loaded to continue our journey to Hagerstown, MD, it was late in the
evening. You would think these
kids would be worn out from a day of sightseeing, visiting the museums
on the National Mall, and checking out the monuments.
But they were
energized, excited, and could have gone for several more hours on the
Mall. They had seen everything,
done everything, and yet they were ready for more.
We did have to get
to Hagerstown and get checked into the motel. The
thought pattern, however, was evolving from the National Mall to the
responsibility that lay ahead for the back-yard Bible studies.
The next day was a
complete free day for the youth in Hagerstown. They could do washing; cleaning;
studying; resting; playing; walking; or just laying in the sun. It was their day to prepare
themselves for the week ahead.
For me, I had not
forgotten what happened on the coach two nights prior. To be touched by an Angel that was
dispatched by God Himself that saved our coach from running off the
highway was indeed not something that you just overlook.
Granted life goes on
and new events require your attention for the day, but in the back of
your mind, you continue to wonder at the wonder of it all. I had by now come to the complete
conclusion that something spiritual had occurred and I was touched by a
spiritual being.
Questions no longer
existed regarding who or how it might have otherwise been done. There was no other way. God used an Angel to touch me. The kids were saved from a terrible
horrific tragic circumstance that can only be imagined in my mind.
I kept asking myself
what did it mean for the choir and more importantly for me –what did it
mean to me? In the midst of
trying to understand, I chose not to share the event with anyone. I know this is strange not to share
at the time, but I had several reasons for not wanting to let it be
known.
First, I was not
sure how telling what happened would be received. Would I be looked at as some kind of
kook that was making up the story for my own selfish purposes? It could be received as such by those
who were skeptical.
Secondly, I had a
reputation to uphold. As a
professional driver, I could have put the rest of the trip at risk in
the minds of those on the coach.
To admit that I had fallen asleep is not something that you want
to jump and down about.
If you are a
passenger on a coach, it is not something you want know about your driver. You might just find yourself watching
his every move to make sure that it does not happen again.
Further you do not
want anyone talking to anyone back at the home church sharing with
their parents what happened to the driver. I could see parents going to the
leaders of the church demanding a new driver to replace me.
It could be even
worse. Parents could go to the
company and demand that they send a driver out to take over for
me. That would probably have
done me in with the company and I would no longer be driving for
them. They could not place
themselves at risk regardless who was bringing
the business to them.
No – to share what
happened would not be a good move.
Even to share with close friends would not be a good move. They
could have gotten excited about the Angel and told others who in turn
would have gotten the news out to everyone else.
For the sake of the
trip I just sat on what happened.
I thanked God every time I climbed into the driver’s seat. I knew what God had done and I wanted
to make sure that He knew how much I appreciated what He did.
There would be a
time and when the time is right, I will tell all. As you might have guessed by now –
this is that time. It is a new
day for me on the road.
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