Cruising down an Oklahoma turnpike has never been an unfamiliar setting for me as most of my work consists of driving frequently. However, yesterday as I was driving in this very common setting back home, I found myself singing to country and southern gospel tracks, enjoying the beautiful Oklahoma sunset, and looking forward to wrapping a great day.
All of sudden, out of nowhere, I heard a very loud sound as if a motorcycle was passing me with a heavy exhaust pipe, but looking out my car, not one single vehicle was around me. The sound gets louder, I turn my stereo off. The sound gets even louder. I look behind me, again no vehicle in sight. Suddenly, the sound hit its climax and into a scrapping tone as if someone was scrapping their nails on a chalkboard. My Lincoln town car then began to veer uncontrollably into both lanes back and forth as I saw white smoke come in the view of my mirror from behind me. Doing all I could to hold onto my steering wheel, I was able to slightly control the sputtering and pull over out of the way of traffic. So thankful no one was around me.
I quickly got out of my car and validated what I had already gathered, the fact that one of my rear tires had a blowout. The tire had spun so hard that the rubber had been frayed into several directions. With the constant traffic coming and nightfall on its way, I knew being on the side of the road wouldn’t be the ideal place to be for a long period of time. I grabbed my car jack and donut tire and began to get to work. It seemed like an eternity as I was getting the jack to lift up my car.
After 15 mins, I was covered in sweat, tire grease, and my white shirt wasn’t exactly white any more. Soon I noticed some flashing lights behind me as I was getting another part of my jack out of the trunk. It was a Highway Patrolman. He greeted me and complimented my car and asked if I needed any help. He proceeded to unscrew the bolts of the old tire as I was preparing the donut. We visited for awhile as we worked. He wondered what I did, I told him that I was an author and speaker. He seemed interested in my book, Caught Up & Called Out, as he was interested in leadership. We soon finished up the replacement tire and noticed that it was in need of some air. The officer told me there was a QuikTrip about 10 miles away from where we were at and that they had free air pumps there. I told him thank you for his help and offered to give him one of my books, but he said he wanted to download the book online instead. I gave him my card not expecting to see him again.
To my surprise, the officer took the time to follow me in my lane so no other traffic could interfere as I could only do 40 mph in a 75 mph with my donut. When I arrived at the QuikTrip to air my replacement tire. He got out of the car and said, “Sir, I want to shake your hand?” Puzzled, I wondered why. He said, “While we were driving over here to QuikTrip, I did a quick search on you and I saw that you were a Christian. You see, I’m a Christian too and I want you to know that your work as a speaker and writer for people is appreciated in this state. We need more people like you.”
I didn’t know what to say except “Thank you. And that God gets all the glory.” I told him that his job was so important and that as a patrolman I’m sure he deals with all kinds of people and situations. Truth be told, I told him that he was a difference maker and that we needed more leaders like him. As I thanked him for all he did for others and how much I valued his help, I felt the heart tug to pray for him right there at QuikTrip. I prayed that God would go before him, keep him safe, give him favor in every situation, and help him in every endeavor to know God’s peace and presence. We said amen and both went our separate ways encouraged.
I recall the events that happened and I think of how much I appreciated the actions of a true servant leader and the protective hand of an Almighty God. To be honest, this month has been one of the hardest months spiritually I have ever been through, but God still has a plan regardless. 😃 We go through so many things in life wondering why we do so, but little do we know what God has in store. I went through a scary blowout on a turnpike, but in the end, it led to a person being prayed for and encouraged. No matter what your blowout is, an obstacle, a conflict, current events, an unmet need, etc., know that God always has a plan through it all and He will always be willing to give you a hand, just like the highway patrolman did for me. Never did I expect anything good to come out of this incident, but that’s what I get for thinking. After all, there truly was a blessing behind the blowout. #BehindTheBlowout #NewBlogPost #HelpingHand
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
-Romans 8:28
Brandon Baumgarten 