I have a very predictable morning routine. On Thursday everything was as usual; I went to mass at 9 am and said my usual prayer to St Joseph asking him to look after me as he did for his wife Mary. By 10 am I was on the road heading back to San Jose after spending a few days at my parents house. For the whole trip home down busy, 8 lane highway 280, the battery light was on very faintly, so faintly that when I was wearing sunglasses I couldn't see it. Other than that, the trip was uneventful.
Finally I arrived in San Jose and on Camden my car died. Not just stalled, it died completely- even the hazard lights wouldn't work. And it was stuck in park so I couldn't even put it into neutral (much to the irritation of the kindly, tattooed homeless man who offered to push my car to the side of the road; when I told him it was impossible, he went back to the intersection and, with much gesticulation and flailing of arms had a very heated exchange with his shopping cart, presumably about bad women drivers.)
The tow truck came and loaded my poor, dirty little pro- life car onto its back and carried her gently off to the repair shop. In the car on the way over the driver said that was a horrible spot to stall. But I knew there was a much worse place, highway 280 where I had been less than an hour previously. There I would've been stuck inside the car (instead of being able to escape and wait on the side of the road) in danger of being rear- ended by another car going 70 miles an hour.
Thank you, Saint Joseph. You're my hero.
4 comments:
Oh wow. My parents live on Camden. Wouldn't it be weird if they somehow saw you stranded on the side of the road?
BTW, I'm doing well. Just quiet if can believe that.
I always say a prayer when I get behind the wheel of my car. Always. And I can say I have been blessed any time I had car problems--like flat tires while parked in my own driveway! My husband always gives me a hard time about my "luck."
Once years ago, I was making deliveries for my husband's business. I had my infant daughter in the car with me. For some reason I decided to stop by my house between deliveries. It was early for lunch, but I was compelled to stop at the house. I wasn't home 5 minutes when I heard this loud explosion. One of my tires burst while it was parked in the driveway! If I hadn't come home I would have been on the busiest of Houston's freeways with an infant in the car when the tire blew!
As I said, I ALWAYS say a prayer when I get behind the wheel! And that day I certainly said a prayer of thanks!
You're right - 280 would have been worse. My car broke down on 280 northbound 14 years ago - while I was driving in the far left lane - and I can still remember every scary detail!
Thank God, and thank St. Joseph! I just started praying to St. Joseph myself about 2 months agao. I don't know why I didn't - I guess he kind of takes a back seat to Mary and Jesus, even St. Jude, in the devotional life of my church. I'm glad I "discovered" him. What a powerful intercessor and model of a faithful, holy, loving man and husband. St. Joseph, please continue to protect Faith, and please pray for me!
Post a Comment