—Psalm 91:11
Its encouraging to know that someone has your back when the going gets tough. Such support lightens our burdens and makes it easier to deal with the pressures of daily life.
But, have you ever thought about God having your back even when you are unaware of it or when you least expect it?
Two young men, Bob Morrison and his friend, Scott, were privileged to witness, a Mother and child being miraculously protected from instant death by a mysterious wind coming out of nowhere. How could such a thing happen? Bob and Scott are convinced it could only happen through the power of God. Such incidences are not that rare in the affairs of mankind. George Washington attributed to the “finger’ of God the “miraculous” fog that enabled his army to slip through the Delaware river undetected, and gain a vital victory that changed the tide of the Revolutionary war.
Following is Bob Morrison’s story.
A few years ago in downtown Denver my friend, Scott Reasoner, and I saw something tiny and insignificant change the world, but no one else even seemed to notice.
It was one of those beautiful Denver days, Crystal clear, no humidity, not a cloud in the sky. We decided to walk the ten blocks to an outdoor restaurant rather than take the shuttle bus that runs up and down the Sixteenth Street Mall. The restaurant, in the shape of a baseball diamond, was called ‘The Blake Street Baseball Club.’ The tables were set appropriately on the grass infield. Many colorful pennants and flags hung limply overhead.
As we sat outside, the sun continued to beat down on us, and it became increasingly hot. There wasn’t a hint of a breeze, and heat radiated up from the tabletop. Nothing moved, except the waiters, of course. And they didn’t move very fast, either.
After lunch, Scott and I started to walk back up the mall. We both noticed a Mother and her young daughter walking out of a card shop toward the street. She was holding her daughter by the hand while reading a greeting card. It was immediately apparent to us that she was so engrossed in the card that she did not notice a shuttle bus moving toward her at a good clip. She and her daughter were one step away from disaster when Scott started to yell. He hadn’t even gotten a word out when a breeze blew the card out of her hand and over her shoulder. She spun around and grabbed at the card, nearly knocking her daughter over. By the time she picked up the card from the ground and turned back around to cross the street, the shuttle bus has whizzed by her. She never even knew what almost happened. God was watching over her even if she was not aware of it.
To this day, two things continue to perplex Bob about this event.
Firstly, where did that one spurt of wind come from to blow the card out of that young Mother’s hand? There had not been a whisper of wind at lunch or during the long walk back up the mall or at the moment of the bus’s sudden arrival.
Secondly, if Scott had been able to get his words out, the young Mother might have looked up at them as they continued to walk into the bus. It was the wind that made her turn back to the greeting card—in the one direction that saved her life and that of her daughter. The passing bus did not create the wind. On the contrary, the wind came from the opposite direction.
Do you feel that you never walk alone but that God is watching over you? The awesomeness of this miracle is that the Mother never consciously knew she was being protected.
As we continue about our daily lives, we should never take God for granted. For with Him we never walk alone and He often acts in our lives without our being aware.
6 Comments
Tom Walsh
God is Amazing and is always looking out for us. Unfortunately we are not always conscious of His presence until we have a near miss and then the penny drops. Thank you Fr. Hugh for sharing this story with us and Thank You God for Loving and Protecting us. Amen.
Hugh Duffy
As you say, Tom, “we’re not always conscious of God’s presence until we have a near miss, and then the penny drops.”
Rev. Bart Okere
Some people really take God & their guardian angels for granted. Most people rarely realize the presence of God in their lives till something mysterious happens to them. Some people use God as they used their spear tire in their cars. They only remember when their tire is flattened, then spear comes up as backup. We’re not alone as Fr. Duffy’s story indicates. God is always with us @ all times.
Ellie Egan
Thank you for this beautiful story and song! We all need to stop and remember that we never walk alone and that our God is with us always!
Lois Bradley
Thank youFather Duffy I know God has reached out many times in my life and saved me and my love ones from harm.
Hugh Duffy
You’re blessed to have experiences like those, Lois.