Miracle on 395
by Jen Shroder
When I was 19, I was traveling from Mammoth Lakes to Los Angeles in
a convertible Mustang, down a long lonely two-lane highway in the
Mojave desert. It was summer in the heat of the day, middle of the
week, which means cars were few and far between.
My Mustang
broke down and there I was stranded with the hood up looking at the
engine helplessly. Eventually a car showed up, it was a small, boxy
Toyota-something. It parked a little in front of my car and sat there.
All I could see was the back of two thick necks as large men in the
back seat didn’t turn around. I thought this odd and had a bad feeling
about this.
I made my way to the driver’s seat but with the top already down, I
knew my car wasn’t gong to give me very much protection. Suddenly the
driver, a small but extremely angry looking man, got out of the car
and started walking toward me at a fast pace, as though his adrenalin
was pumping. The men stuffed in the back seat still didn’t turn
around. I started yelling, "I’m fine, I’m fine, it’s just overheated"
as I climbed into the driver's seat, trying to pretend he had gotten
out of his car to help me. But he kept coming and passed my engine
without a glance coming straight for me. I’ll never forget his
expression or how he was approaching, sort of trembling in angry
determination. I have often thought of his affect since then, like
when I took a Mace class and the officer was describing various
situations. Reasoning with a man like this would be like a small
animal trying to reason with a hawk as it swooped in for the kill.
Whatever was about to happen, it was going to happen fast as he
approached, trembling with adrenalin and I had no where to go.
And then, past my engine and reaching for my door, past the point
of no return and his evil intention clear, he suddenly looked to his
side down the road and froze, then turned and quickly walked back
towards his own car. I turned to look at what he saw and there on the
horizon was a police car.
This was unbelievable. Even in today’s unbelievable movies, the
timing of a Sheriff showing up in the seconds between his passing my
engine and reaching my door on a highway that rarely saw another car
was pretty far fetched. And then for that car to be a Sheriff or CHP
(I didn’t know the difference, I just thanked God he had a gun!) was
even more unbelievable. But it was true. And I’ve taken comfort from
this ever since because even though many would say it was a
coincidence, I know it was God, especially now, especially after all
the other things that have happened since then. And I recognize His
signature. I think He wanted me to know it was Him, that’s why it was
so precisely timed. Just seconds before, that man could have pretended
he was just there to help. Once he passed my engine with obvious evil
intent…there’s no doubt in my mind. God was in the timing. And I’m
just so thankful to Him!
The ride into Mojave with the CHP/Sheriff was as frightening as the
experience though. Oh he was a wonderful man! But while this situation
happened in a few moments, I had a ride with a Sheriff that was happy
to describe all the grizzly things they find in that desert and how
lucky (blessed) I was that none of them happened to me.
I know there are many people who have suffered horrible fates and
how I was saved might seem unfair, but I firmly believe that suffering
happens on this planet, not in heaven. Heaven is a reward that we all
fight so hard to avoid. And though many of us suffer just before our
arrival, heaven is eternal. God has a plan for all of us, some are to
come home sooner than later, but home we will surely come. I think the
only thing that matters is that when we do, we know Christ. For none
of us are worthy, no not one, only in Christ can we be presented,
washed in His glory, able to leave all our sins behind and enter in.
Please know Him. Jesus Christ is the biggest decision you will ever
make.
