Saturday February 13 2016  NIGHT BECKONS

A Late night for me.  Just returned home from an incredible birthday party for a one year old.  It was more in the line of something like a wedding reception.  Actually I have photographed several wedding receptions in the same reception area.  The party was black tie or dressy.  Dressy it was.  The party was hosted by an Eastern Indian family to celebrate their son’s birth.  Most of the guests were Indian and were attired in the most brilliant colored saris. The Indian women’s clothing was gorgeous.  The people were beautiful and so very friendly.  I was impressed with the behavior of all the children.  They were all so well-mannered and respectful.  Even the birthday boy did not make a peep the entire evening.  And what a gorgeous little boy he is.

I felt honored to be invited to this celebration.  I met this young couple at our church and photographed their newborn son last year just before I left on my trip.  I have not seen them since that time.  It was unbelievable to see the baby first as a newborn and presto, now as a one year old.  I had a great time while at the party and stayed way too late.  The food was unbelievably delicious.  There was a great many selections and it was all perfectly spiced with HOT HOT seasonings.  

I took a few pictures on my cell phone and received permission to put them on my blog.  It was a fun, well organized event and I loved every moment I was there.  It was great to be with such a nice group of people.  I met one young lady of 14 named Venika.  “Venika” sounded so beautiful when she spoke her name.  I also took pictures of both her, and her mom, and have been given permission to share them on my blog.  I also asked Venika what she had learned in her short life that she would like to share with others.  I was quite amazed at her answer.  Here is her wisdom:

“I THINK IF YOU MEET SOMEONE YOU SHOULDN’T PUSH THEM AWAY, BUT YOU SHOULD OPEN UP AND TALK TO THEM AND BE KIND, BECAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT KIND OF TROUBLE   AND YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT PROBLEMS WE ALL FACE IN OUR LIVES.  I THINK EVERYONE DESERVES TO BE SHOWN KINDNESS AND BE CARED ABOUT EVEN IF YOU DON’T KNOW THAT PERSON WELL.”

I think I would be proud to be Venika’s mother.  Thank you Venika for sharing your wisdom with me.

As I promised last evening, the conclusion of last night’s episode will be shared in tonight’s blog.  If you have not read yesterday’s blog, you may want to read it before you read the following.

Here it is:

Journal Entry:

Saturday March 20, 2015 9:10 a.m.  San Antonio Texas

“DO YOU TRUST ME?”

WOW!  What a wonderful, watchful God You are!  Thank You Lord for Your amazing care and grace over my life yesterday.

Texas highways are a threat to your life.  Drove from Fort Worth to San Antonio, all back roads.  Speed limits posted up to 75 mph on two lane roads and highways WITH TRAFFIC SIGNALS.  I was on a divided stretch with posted limits at 75 mph.  I was driving that speed when I noticed the red light ahead turn to yellow.  I glanced in my rear view mirror, no one was close behind me, it was raining but visibility was still fine and I leisurely came to a stop as the light turned red.  When I began slowing down I was probably less than an eighth mile from the intersection.   I was in the right lane.  There was no other lane to my right, just the light pole on a little raised cement triangle.  No one was in front of me.  A couple of cars were in the lane to my left.

About three or four seconds after I stopped, a large pick-up truck with a large irregular shaped, loaded trailer, went zooming by on the right side of me where the shoulder should have been.  But there was no shoulder there, only the light pole.  I didn’t see the truck coming from behind. I did see him pass me because I was looking toward my right.  He must have been traveling about 60 miles per hour.  The look I saw on his face was one of horror and bewilderment.  He was not behind me in my rear view when I began breaking for the light.  He must have been quite a ways behind me, perhaps became distracted looking at the scenery, and when he glanced back at the road, was when he may have realized the traffic had stopped.  When you are traveling 75 to 80 miles an hour (yes, even in the rain) you cover a lot of ground rather quickly.  When he looked up and saw me he was unable to slow down in time due to the slippery roads and the heavy trailer pushing him, so he chose to squeeze between my car and the light pole.  And somehow he was able to accomplish that.  He ran the red light, barely squeezing by.  He was fighting to keep his truck under control.  He finally quit breaking and gunned his engine as cars from the cross street started coming over the divided area of the highway. 

When he swooshed past me I heard myself say aloud, “Why’d he do that?”  A voice that seemed almost audible, immediately replied back in a calm voice, “Because he couldn’t stop.  Do you trust me now?”

WOW!

It seemed it all happened in slow motion.  My adrenalin was never triggered because I did not notice him approaching.  By the time he passed me all danger was over.  A laughter bubbled up in my heart as I imagine God’s angels surrounding my little Kia Soul, directing the devil to stay clear of the back of my car.  I believe it was also the angels that guided the truck driver between my car and the light pole, not allowing his truck or trailer to even skin my side mirror.  When I looked at that light pole afterward, there is no way in the world that I thought a truck that big could fit in between that space.  It was amazing!  And even more amazing, no cross traffic hit him, nor did he hit anyone else. 

I truly believe that God answered the prayer I prayed yesterday morning sitting in my cousin’s driveway when He asked me “Do you trust me?”  And I responded, yes Lord, I trust You!

The End

So now you know how God protected me on that rainy Friday.  And I am forever thankful!

Now for the rest of the story.  While I was eating my food at the brunch this morning before I was going to speak, I felt a tug in my heart that I was not to share that story.  All of a sudden I knew that I was to share the story of my first night on the road.  I have never shared it publically, but for some reason I felt I was to change my talk and ad-lib the first night story.  So I did.  Oh well, at least it spurred me on to share with my readers what happened on my drive through Texas.

I LISTEN AS SLEEP CALLS MY NAME

By Kathleen Martens

February 13, 2016

Night beckons my tired body

To lie down and go to sleep.

I think that’s just what I’ll do

And you’ll not hear another a peep.

The day was long, night grows shorter

As each moment I type these words.

I listen as sleep calls my name.

And its bidding I have heard.

So I’ll bid you adieu

And my routine I shall keep.

Even though it is a bit later

It will be no trouble to sleep.

Good night and God bless you!