The wondrous adventure of mountain living continues…
So, right before the first of the year, I had to come back
down the hill for a dentist appointment.
I. HAD. TO. COME. DOWN. You see, I had already postponed this appointment once, and
I just couldn't do it again.
My appointment was on a Thursday morning – therefore,
traveling day was Wednesday. However, when I woke up on Wednesday morning, I was rather
shocked and dismayed to see the weather outside.
Oh, blustery blizzard blowing…and cold, cold, cold.
Yup, a
rainy snowy-slush was pouring down, the wind was
gusting hard, and it was like
28 outside.
I was scared.
I waited until early afternoon, and realized that the weather was
NOT going to break, and I had to get going.
"The Hub" has
lived in the mountains before. He has
driven in the snow. He has
four-wheel drive. Eddie the Explorer, my car, is a
snow virgin. Inexperienced and naïve, scared to death to venture out.
Me, too.
But, my pearly whites had a date to keep.
So, I packed up, gave "The Hub" a big hug good-bye, and
drove off into the sunset –
(Was there a sun? Hard to say with less than 50 feet visibility…)
A little background here. Our house lies at the end of a steep road, with
multiple switchbacks on the way up…
and the way down!
So, I got around one
switchback curve, riding my brakes all the way, when all of a sudden –
I started to slide. Fortunately, I managed to finally stop.
But I was scared.
Time for reinforcements.
An answer to prayer, I actually had
cell phone signal – which I usually
NEVER get until I reach town. I called "The Hub"…
"I'm scared. I don't think I can do this by myself."
And that's all it took for my Hero Husband to hop in his Jeep and come to the rescue.
He told me he would
follow me down until I got down the hill a little further.
Awesome.
Well, I managed to get around
one more switchback before I started to slide again. Only this time,
I wasn't able to stop. No control whatsoever, I slowly glided my way into a
tree. Not hard enough to dent my car, but that was it for me driving.
A quick musical-chairs switch, and "The Hub" was now in the
driver's seat…
literally.
Only he didn't do much better. He started to slide, and slowly glided right into a
huge boulder at the side of the road. Not hard enough to dent my car, but definitely
stuck.
Now what?
Well, we both hopped in the Jeep, drove back home, got some snow chains, and went back to rescue Eddie.
Can you picture "The Hub" putting chains on in this
bitter winter storm? I can, because I stood right next to him for
moral support. Might I just mention that by now the storm was
not playing nice. No more slushy stuff, it was now
pelting us with these perfect little snowballs of hail. The ground looked like it was covered with tiny Styrofoam pellets.
OK, so the chains are on.
Time to get this show on the road. So, "The Hub" went back to my car, and tried to back up.
No traction. Eddie was burning a pretty hot skidmark in the road,
but he wasn't going anywhere.
I prayed – oh boy, did I pray!
Finally, the car moved
just barely far enough for "The Hub" to turn the wheels away from the boulder, and he
slowly (and oh how closely!) inched past.
I have no idea how my car escaped scraping the entire left side of the body, other than some
big old angel just pushed it past that boulder!
The rest is history.
Chains came off in town, the weather broke within ten minutes of driving out of the mountains, and I arrived safely in Orange County.
All I have to say is that
I am going to drive the rest of the winter with chains on – rain or snow or shine. Not really, but maybe…
You know, it made me think about how I've been feeling lately about life.
It's pretty
blustery out there, and often it's
cold and lonely. The roads are
slick, full of
switchbacks, and
visibility into the future is dim.
Sometimes I feel like I have to
ride my brakes all the time. Because, so often I feel like
I'm starting to slide. No control, unable to stop circumstances, unable to negotiate the curves.
I get scared.
Time for reinforcements.
How often my prayers are desperate cries for help…
"I'm scared. I don't think I can do this by myself."
And do you know that that's all it takes for my Hero Savior to come to the rescue?
That's all – a cry for help.
And He has agreed to
follow me, very closely – in front and behind me –
until I get down the hill a little further.
Awesome.
Mountain driving can be pretty tricky, often frightening. Just like life. It's not for the faint-hearted.
But when you feel faint of heart, there is help.
There is a kind friend, with wounded hands, who is
strong enough to hold on to you tightly.
So don't ever forget –
(and that means you, too, Mrs. Sharon) – in every storm, and through every blustery blizzard that blows,
there is One who will rescue us.
One who will stand...
Between the rock and the tree place…
The Rock, The Vine – our Hero.
How has Jesus rescued you lately?
(EDDIE UPDATE (12/31): Unfortunately, Eddie did not make the trip back UPHILL. He is currently stranded a few switchbacks down the road from our house. Chains didn't work - too icy, too steep. Did I mention that "The Hub" is the only one with 4-wheel drive? Will keep you posted. I miss my car!)
(EDDIE UPDATE (1/1): Another valiant try, this time with the expen$ive chains - but still no luck. Eddie has to spend another day and night in the winter wilderness. I offered him some chicken soup, but he said he'd rather just pout.)
(EDDIE UPDATE (1/2): Well, after one heart-stopping Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, I am happy to report that Eddie is back home. Where he will remain until Spring - (not really, but just maybe...) "The Hub" will be entering the Indianapolis 500 race this year - yes, his skills are just that good. Eddie felt like he let us down, but I told him he did very, very well for a 14-year-old snow virgin!)
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