That's amazing that you followed up on the infused knowledge to go get your sister. A dark parking lot. Not for a woman alone to be.
I feel like my prayers were answered today although looks like I will be praying myself to get through this winter. Before the storm hit I called the city and asked what I was supposed to do about my car getting plowed in (last year took a good Samaritan 1/2 hour of heavy shovelling) after the city pickup with blade (changed to this system for side streets) left a huge berm around my car.
The lady at the city and listening to my situation of why I don't/can't park in my garage, said to pull up halfway out of the alley (the only alternative). I've been beseiged with this awful anxiety where I get so tired and weak, I got everything ready, put on these slipper-like ice tracks over my oldest boots they fit well over, grabbed my shovel (works better than a cane. stocl. with a walker harder to carry things, to get up and down steps and slopes) and went to see how bad it was out in the alley with my car.
I have an easement to get across the neighbor's property and the new ones are parked right where I need to drive my car. Today I see that they threw their 3+ car driveway a big dump of snow on their and my property so can't get down the easiest slope. I guess I'll have to tell them about the easement because no way if they put snow there can I get in and out, maybe can just tighter. I thought about getting an estimate for blacktop and grading to where a prior neighbor ruined my driveway excavating on his big garage, leaves a hump that damaged my exhaust system I had to pay to get fixed.
My car was covered with snow still so I thought I'd get in and see if the car would start and rhen clear just enough to see and try to get out of that tight place I will have to park and get the snow off where it would be the least problem for me and others later.
Just then down the alley came a couple and insisted that they help me. So I could just sit in the car while they cleared the snow off. I told them to use my plastic shovel, it's faster and doesn't hurt my old car so they did. And glad I didn't have to make a trip back in the house to get my big screwdriver which I did need to pry the door open after I unlocked it. I forgot I had put duct tape over the screwdriver so it wouldn't scratch when prying my door, sometimes hood and trunk.
I have a battey jump pack and to my horror I realized when my hood is heavy snow pack I can't get off or iced in, even if I can get it loose, it's too heavy to lift so cross that bridge if it comes to that.
Thank heaven my car started right away, they directed me how to turn so I won't hit the neighbor's car behind me and a limestone wall in front of me. So thankful because I can't rock the car there and as winter progresses the ice and snowpack could turn into a nightmare.
So I got into the icy rut tracks in the alley and got on out and back in front. Somebody looks like they cleared where the snowplow pushed the snow into the little walk I need up to the public sidewalk. So thankful for that and lucky I had my ice spikes because it's icy when I open my door where I always park.
The couple was visiting the man's dad, and said they saw how I had to get parked there (I parked too high on the slope the first time, was getting too close to a 45 degree angle and was afraid I was going to roll the car.
So the worry about that one thing, I am exhausted and been shaking lately. I feel like God sent that couple to help me today and the man last year. I used to be able to shovel a lot more than I can now. And I offered to pay them and they wouldn't hear of it.
I don't have a cell phone either, was thinking maybe I ought to at least buy a throwaway and keep it charged.
Just because I'm a person of faith doesn't mean i couldn't be your sister and something bad happen like being in a dark lonely place. Even though there are people maybe within earshot doesn't mean they will come to help.
And we can't say your sister wasn't thinking ahead to leave her car where she did and get a different bus.
I'm remembering a whole lot more where I was feeling panicky but still able to try to find help. I thank God for the people who have helped me along the way, up by Chicago, twice and thank God for them.
Just consider what happened to you a gift. In time you may be shown why that man that time, sounds like you didn't know him very well or wasn't family, etc. I wish I could have told all this more briefly, never known for being succinct.
Blessings to you, love your screen name, and happy Thanksgiving.
You too....I hope you are safe and a cell phone would be a good idea! Good luck!!!
Aria
My wife sometimes gets those “soft quiet voice” things when she prays.
One time she was on a committee to choose our next pastor. Prayed and prayed over names. “God - who should we pick!?”
The answer was “You’ll know.”
Not exactly what she wanted!! But it turned out being the right answer - in the end it was obvious who they should pick.
Same when she was with my dying mother. How long should she stay? Should she go back home to get the kids in school. What if mom lives for another six months. Prayed and prayed.
“Lord - when should I go back home?”
And again that same quiet voice.
With the same stupid answer! “You’ll know”!!
And of course - it was the right answer.
Yes - there is another plane of existence out there. Some are more tuned in than others.