Tuesday, November 22, 2011

roadside assisstance

I was cruising along on I 40.  All of a sudden the car in front of me slowed and stopped in the left hand lane.  Across the right lane I saw an upside down truck.  The wreck must have just happened.  I was the second one on the scene.

I didn't know what to do.  I thought I should stay out of the way.  But then I saw a man standing at the upside down truck trying to force the door open, and thought maybe I could help.  So I put my flashers on and joined a couple other people making their way to the truck.

The driver was a young woman, wrapped around the steering wheel and hanging upside down.  Two men got the truck door pulled off.  A woman and man helped pull the driver out and put a sweatshirt under her head.  Someone found her purse and tucked it under her arm.  I heard someone call 911.  I still didn't know what to do.  Then I realized that while everyone was busy, the woman was laying on the road alone.  Now there is a job for a chaplain.  I knelt next to her, held her hand, and spoke soothingly.  Just another day at work!

While on the road, I watched as people jumped out of their cars and came to help.  A few men cleared the road that was scatted with CD's, clothes and papers that had fallen from the truck.  A woman on the phone directed the emergency vehicles, while a man helped point traffic around the wreck. Numerous people came up to offer their help.  It hit me that this world is full of good people.  It's easy to forget after weeks of watching thugs, trouble makers and selfish people on the news every day. But here were good people streaming over.  Regular, going to work or school, willing to stop everything and help a stranger, full of goodness kind of people.  I was glad to be part of them this morning, and glad to know they are all over my town.

ps: I found out on the news tonight that the woman came through with minor injuries.  So glad.  Her car was not so lucky.

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