What Can I Do?

from Katherine
I was driving home from my school day Tuesday in a blinding rain. Water was running across the road in sheets.  As I crossed the river and started up the hill I spotted the car in the middle of the road, debris and glass covering the pavement.

The accident must have just happened but I was surprised that no one had stopped. I pulled off the road and grabbed my phone and ran toward the car when I saw the young man on the edge of the pavement. Having been thrown from his vehicle, he was in a terrible state. I kneeled at his side, touched his shoulder and told him that I would stay with him until help came. I prayed simply, “God Help”. My calls to the emergency number on my cell just rang busy or did not even connect. I wondered if the storm had knocked out power to the cell tower nearby. 

“I am here with you. Can you feel God’s presence with us? I can. I know he is here with us. I am here, God is here. We will stay with you.”

It seemed like that was all I could do. I don’t have medical training. I am not a trained first responder. I couldn’t even get my cell phone to work. What could I do? Could I make a difference?

Others began stopping. Amazingly a young doctor just passing through stopped and immediately began rendering aid. Somehow some of the phone calls got through because police and ambulances starting arriving.

I stepped back to let those trained do what they do best but I continued to pray.  He was taken to a nearby hospital but the young man died later that day. I found out later that he was recently married and had a mom and dad and sister. It turns out that I knew many friends of his which helped me feel just a bit closer.

I learned something that day. Even when you don’t feel that there is anything you can do in a desperate situation, you can offer the blessing of presence and the comfort of prayer to someone in need.

Matthew 5:4      Blessed are those that mourn, for they will be comforted