Helen's Frightening Journey
In Living Faith, Helen Roseveare tells of finding herself driving a small van behind a huge truck on a 350-mile stretch in Africa. She tried to sound the horn to encourage him to find a spot along the narrow winding shoulder where he could pull off and allow her to pass. The horn failed.
Aggravated, she sat doggedly behind the truck hoping at each bend in the road he would glimpse her in his rearview mirror and give her the right of way. But he was throwing a massive cloud of red dust as he churned forward, and it was impossible for him to see behind him. Again and again she tried to attract his attention but to no avail.
An hour and a half later, dusk fell and she leaned forward to switch on her headlights. To her horror she realized that "no horn" meant "no lights!" The truck ahead lit up and for four hours, she drove forward in the lights of that truck.
It was frightening. She dared not lose him or lag behind. She could not stay too close in case he braked suddenly or lost control and skidded. Yet she must stay as close as she possibly could.
At last, nearing eleven o'clock, he drew up at a wayside rest area, and she gratefully pulled in behind him. She was almost exhausted with the strain, but she was also exhilarated with the success! She had followed him exactly all the way. She staggered out, went over to the driver, and thanked him for his (quite unconscious) leadership!
Helen was being cared for even when she was unaware of her need. Her inability to pass was God's protection.
Dear Lord, when we cannot change an unpleasant situation, we will trust that You are allowing it for purposes only You can see.
"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them" (Isaiah 42:16).
