god on the side of the road

I have an 8:15 class on global liberation theologies on tuesday mornings and I'm generally a few minutes late for it because I have a late night monday class and I like my sleep. but this morning I took off just a little past 7:00, anticipating a relaxed, comfortable drive that would get me to seminary at least 10 minutes early. a nice change.

I didn't anticipate the combination of extra traffic and a mid-bridge accident to hold me up on the way. the traffic across the I-94 hudson bridge was backed up to the next exit and it took me 45 minutes to cross it. a minivan had t-boned a sedan about 3/4 across the bridge, closing down a lane. it looked like no one was hurt, 2 women standing around watching firemen seperating the vehicles. then a mad rush to make up the time before I ran into another backup on 694 north, where traffic had also been reduced to 1 lane for roadwork. I poked along, but by the time it was 9:00 and I still hadn't come to the 1st exit, I caught a handy u-turn and headed home. at the rate it was taking, I would make class when there was less than an hour left to it. life's too short to sit in traffic.

it took me less than a 1/2 hour to recover the distance. I got off 94 at the exit before home in order to drive the back roads and look at the llamas and bison. at the top of the ramp I saw a woman walking in the opposite direction, so I rolled down my window and asked if she was okay. she said, "I got a flat tire." I asked if she wanted a ride to town and after a couple seconds hesitation she said "really?"

she got in and I drove her the 3 or 4 miles to hammond. she chattered nervously for much of it, but once she realized I wasn't about to threaten or hurt her she calmed down, and when I suggested she was lucky she had the day off in order to deal with the flat tire she said, "well, I am now. you're a blessing." I grinned and said "thank you" and dropped her off at the gas station.

I don't subscribe much to the sort of thinking that there are "reasons" we do things differently and end up elsewhere than we intended or that there's fate or kismet. but I can't deny that when we are in the position to do something beneficial for someone after we've haphazardly changed our day it certainly seems that way. still, I don't want to focus on the odd circumstances or whether or not it's coincidence, and I don't think I "saved" her from anything more problemtatic than a long unintended walk in the sun. but I prefer to concentrate on the opportunity I was given to help another person and my acceptance of that opportunity. this taking advantage of the unexpected chance to do good, I think, is what we are here to do. if it's true, as the rabbis have it, that people were created so god could talk to gods-self, then a corollary to that is we are meant to help when god ends up on the side of the road.