I woke early the next morning, much earlier than normal. Usually I would be ready to hike at about 8:30am, but this day I was on the trail at 7:15am. It was only six miles to the road crossing. From there I was counting on getting a ride into town and getting my supply box by noon. It was Saturday, and I had been walking hard all week to make it to that post office by noon on Saturday.
The trail was relatively easy, I was making good time. But I was uptight. I was worried. I was distracted. What if I didn't make it by noon? What if I got to the road and couldn't get a ride? What if I got there at 12:05 and just missed getting my supplies by five minutes? As the miles went by I got more and more anxious. For some reason I had forgotten what happened in Buchannan, Virginia. That story is earlier in my blog and tells about how God answered my prayer and gave me a ride to town and provided for me in a powerful way. But this day in Vermont, I wasn't thinking about Buchannan, Virginia. I was consumed with worry.
Finally I reached a point where my mind cleared. I realized that I couldn't call myself a Christian if I didn't actually trust in God. If God is supposed to be in charge of everything, then I should trust Him, right? So I did the same thing that Jonah eventually did, I prayed. I asked God to help me make it to the post office on time to pick up my supply box. And, I finally had a peace about it.
At 10:30am I broke out of the woods and came out to the road crossing. To my left a few miles away was the town with the post office. I smiled very big. I knew that there was no way I would miss the noon deadline at this post office. Even if I had to walk the whole way, I could probably get there just before noon. I had done it. I had made it. I had pushed hard all week and was now back on schedule.
I began to walk down the road. I heard a car approaching and I stuck out my thumb. A small VW "bug" stopped immediately and gave me a ride. I squeezed myself and my backpack into the back seat of the "bug" and we were on our way. This was great! The first car I saw stopped! I wasn't just going to beat the noon deadline, I was going to kill it! The driver was very nice. He didn't know where the post office was but we drove around until we found it. Truth is, he drove through town twice until we spotted it (the town was that small).
When the VW "bug" pulled into a parking spot I was working to extract myself and my backpack from the back seat of the tiny car. Then I heard the driver say, "I hope you made it in time...." At first I thought he was joking. Every post office I had ever seen in my life closed at noon on Saturday. Then the driver said, "because it closes at 10:45."
Immediately I looked at my watch. It said 10:44am. I raced to the front door, yelling my thanks to the kind driver, and entered the post office just before an employee was able to lock the door. Yes, they had my box. Yes, I was able to get the box with all my supplies.
At 10:50am I was sitting outside of the post office with my supply box and my backpack. I was stunned. For all that time I was focused on noon. I thought I had done it all. I thought I had made things happen. But I realized that the only reason I made it in time was with God's help. There were too many "coincidences" that helped me make it just in time. It was a wake up call for me! I really wasn't in charge. God was (and is) in charge. I will never forget it.
I never saw the VW "bug" drive away (I was too focused on getting my supply box). I like to imagine that it drove up the road and around the corner and then disappeared as the two angels from the car flew into the air and sat on top of a tall tree, laughing about their assignment. They had taken care of me yet again!
2011 update: This morning I weighed in at 170.4 pounds. Last night there was a teachers' meeting (I will be teaching one morning per week this year). I didn't realize that they would have lots of FOOD and DESSERTS and SNACKS. My willpower crumbled and I gave in! More running this morning and hopes to keep trimming the weight off!
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