Going down to Jackson was a Johnny Cash favorite and the blogger can't help but hum the tune he doesn't know the words to every time he takes the northward turn off of I 10 on to I 12 and then on to 55 North. Having barreled through these woods for more nearly 40 years brings back the memories of the hand of the Lord through His angels on more than one occasion. This time of the year is exceptionally tender as we spend time with His thoughts and the last week of His earthly life. Good Friday will come, we will all be in the Sanctuary, the candles will flicker as communion promises are made but Resurrection Day is coming bringing all the joy of a time considered.
At 17 coming out of Vicksburg, Mississippi in a brand new VW Super Beetle the nose pointed northward and headed for Jackson. Stereo blaring Walter and Tremaine Hawkins, the mind drifting over the Services that Sunday had displayed the young driver forgot how tired he was. The night drew on as the Natchez Trace exit appeared and the down shift was made exiting on to one of the prettiest drives in the country, that is in the daytime. At night it just gets darker. And the head began to nod. And sleep came. And so did the tree that the little bug found itself wrapped around.
Blaring sirens headed toward the stretch of road where the young evangelist lay dazed and feeling dead. The surreal hands lifting up the body, the gurney rolling hurriedly toward the ambulance and again with sirens blaring off to Kosciusko, Mississippi. At the hospital the wallet being gone through yielded the name of who to call in case of emergency and with number in hand on the other end of the phone help threw on their clothes as the mercy mission was engaged.
Looking at the bug the next day and interviewing with the Trooper it was plain to see that their had been Angelic assistance in this accident. The blogger did not make it to Tupelo that night but the lesson was learned and never forgotten. There are angels watching over us! Tonight the blogger sits on the Walmart parking lot in his rolling hotel in Tupelo with yet another story to tell about going down to Jackson.
The angels began watching on Sunday, yes another run on a Sunday night, as one of our close financial elders saw the coach rolling out of its warehouse and with open prayer he and his wife spoke the covering of the angels over their Obispo and wondered where he was off to again. Early Monday morning the phone rang outside of Memphis and the elder said to the blogger, "Where are you now?" And with a laugh the reply was the coach was fastly approaching Memphis and the meetings that would occur. With serious tone the elder spoke of his sighting of the coach the night before and how they were called to pray over the trip!
Without hesitation the conversation turned to Jackson and the occurrence coming through on Monday Morning earlier. Driving in fog through the woods the turn of the road came and the freeway traffic was at a standstill. Applying the brakes and let the engine breathe enacted what is called the Jake brake slowing... But will it be enough? Pressure applied again sending the second stage of the Jake brake gearing down the engine and it was not enough. Then the prayer....
Lord Jesus, make a way was the cry as the back of a Nissan with two smiling little kids in the back window were spotted. The voice spoke, "Look to the right." Whipping the head, seeing the opening, wrenching the steering wheel and with inches to spare the shift was made avoiding the collision. Yes, Jackson taught me years ago to look and listen for you do not know when you need the activation of the angels that are watching over you!