Nineteen-year old Colin Driscoll and twenty-year old Steve Toomey were on their way from Manhattan to an upstate New York park that boasted superior recreational grounds and a large scenic lake. They had arranged to meet several friends at a specific site near the lake at exactly 1 p.m.

They were excited as they looked forward to a day of boating, fishing, swimming, and more. But all day long, as they traveled the New York State Thruway, they found themselves plagued by an unusual series of mishaps, crisis, and problems, and it seemed to them they would never get there.

First, a flat tire. They pulled onto a shoulder of the highway and changed it quickly. Then, after making a quick stop at a Thruway rest area, they turned the key in the ignition of the car and nothing happened. After they recharged the battery, they sped down the highway to make up for lost time. “There are never any cops on the Thruway,” Steve reassured Colin, who was nervous. “They all stalk Route 17 instead, Steve insisted.”

Just then they were pulled over by a sheriff who disregarded Steve’s imaginary rule. He took a very long time writing the ticket before the two friends were able to continue their journey.

“We’re an hour late already” expostulated Colin. “The guys will never wait for us, and we’ll never be able to find them. The park’s huge.” But just as they pulled off at the exit, the car suddenly sputtered and died. The two looked at each other “Now what?” cried Colin. “Is this for real?”

Steve shook his head in disbelief. They called a tow truck but it took an hour to arrive.

They were driven to a garage by the roadside. “It’s the fan belt,” the mechanic said.” “It’ll take at least two hours.” “I give up!” shrieked Colin. “I cannot believe our bad luck? When this car’s fixed,” he said to Steve. “let’s head back home.” “I’m not a quitter,” Steve said stubbornly. “The park’s only about twenty minutes away from here. I don’t want to turn around at this point.”

Exasperated, Colin gave in.

When the two friends finally arrived four hours late at the appointed meeting site near the lake, the place was deserted. “I just can’t believe our day,” Colin grumbled to Steve. “We came all this way for nothing.”

But, had they!

Suddenly they heard a young voice shout, “Help.” A second more desperate voice followed, “HELP US PLEASE!” For a frozen moment, Colin and Steve were motionless, their gaze riveted on the sight of two little boys flailing in the lake. “My God, what’s going on,” they muttered in unison.

Then, Colin and Steve, two certified lifeguards, raced to the water’s edge. dove in, and struck out like torpedoes to the boys. They pulled out the kids, administered CPR, and saved their lives.

Steve turned to Colin and asked in a trembling voice: “Do you understand what went down here, Colin?” “I sure do, Steve,” Colin answered somberly. “I most solemnly do. This was the hand of God guiding us all the time. The series of mishaps that had befallen us on the road were all part of God’s plan.”

Steve nodded in agreement. “Just think about it, if we didn’t get to the park at precisely the time we did, surely those kids would be dead.”

—Steve Toomey