On Wisconsin and A Dead Alternator

Presently, I am in the center of Wisconsin. I just met a very nice tow truck driver named Sal who loaded my dead-as-a-doornail car from the shoulder of the Interstate, onto his truck and into his shop. Sal was quickly able to determine that my car's problem is a dead alternator. Unfortunately on this lovely Sunday afternoon, Sal is unable to procure the part due to parts shops being closed today.

In a rather sudden way, God is reminding me that I control nothing. I had my schedule today planned out perfectly. I visited my friend in Illinois until the last minute, had my rest stop planned, and would arrive for house church with 15 minutes to spare. As my car began to shut down and came rolling to a halt, my first reaction was frustration. I thought to myself, "This is screwing up my schedule!"

How silly. How silly of me to think my plans are mine. My schedule, my life, is the Lord's. Sometimes he permits me to fit a bunch of things in and go see a lot of people and places. But sometimes, he asks me to sit quietly at Mauston Park Oasis Family Restaurant (while waiting for my wonderful fiance to come pick me up) and reflect on my total inability to control my life. It is the Lord's purpose that prevails (Prov. 19:21).

So, although I do not understand, I am thanking the Lord for my broken alternator today. I'll miss my house church tonight and I look forward to the time God brings me to them again.

Here's one of the things that came to my rescue today. This is the sticker on the side of Sal's tow truck. Notice where it was made - yup, right in New Hampton, Iowa! I love that New Hampton, my favorite hometown, had a part in getting me off the side of the Interstate.

My other rescuer is my knight in shining armor, my man. I called Rafa first and he immediately calmed me down and started looking up where I was and where the nearest shops were. He then got in the car and started coming toward me. He'll be here in a couple of hours to bring me back to Minneapolis. I love him so much. This incident is another in a string of incidents where I feel pretty high-drama, but he is taking it in stride. He is cool, calm, collected, and always reminding me to be content in the Lord and to honor him in every situation. I love him!