“ENTERTAINING  ANGELS”
(PART ONE)

BY: NEAL  MURPHY

 

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” ( Hebrews 13:2 )

My 1970 Ford Galaxy was purring along highway 87 between Big Spring and San Angelo, Texas that day in 1972.  As is normal in July in that part of the country, the heat was staggering, although my car’s air conditioner was doing its job of keeping my wife and two children relatively cool.  We were returning from a week’s vacation in California where we visited the usual tourist’s locales, Knott’s Berry Farm, Hollywood, and Universal Studios lot.

The heat was rising from the two-lane highway and I could see mirages in the distance from the extreme temperatures.  There was nothing to block my view in any direction for many miles.  There were no trees, shrubs, or flowers to break up the monotonous scenery, only telephone poles and a few fences.

 

Suddenly I heard a noise under the hood of my Ford.  I glanced up at my rear view mirror and saw same small debris flying in the air.  Then all the red warning lights on my dash lit up at the same time.  I knew at once that we were in trouble.  I let the car coast to the side of the deserted roadway, then put it in “park” when it stopped.  “What happened, Daddy ?”, asked my daughter from the back seat.  “I don’t know yet, Kay”, I responded as I opened the driver door.  The heat hit me in the face like an oven.

 

After lifting up the hood, I gazed at the huge motor for any sign of trouble.  I soon found that all three of the belts were gone.  I am not a mechanic, and I had no tools with me.  We were stranded, alone, in this desert.  We did not have a CB radio, and cell phones had not been invented as yet.

 

I got back into the car to discuss what we should do next with the family.  There were no homes or stores within sight, and no cars in view.  My wife said that she and the kids would pray that God would send someone along to rescue us.  That sounded like a good idea to me, perhaps our only option at the time.

Within five minutes, and old pickup truck drove by our stranded Ford, slowed, stopped, and backed up even with us.  I rolled down the window as he leaned toward us and asked, “You folks having problems?”  Now was not the time for a smart response to his obvious question, so I replied, “Yes, sir, looks like all my belts are gone.”  Then he pulled his old Chevrolet truck off on the shoulder in front of my car.

 

When he got out I was struck by this older man.  He had on overalls, a long-sleeved shirt in such heat, and his head was framed by a scruffy beard.  Although I needed his help, I was somewhat nervous about him.  He looked at the four of us and said, “Well, I am a mechanic.  Maybe I can get you back on the road.  Let me get my tool box.”

 

Nothing further was said while he looked under the hood and quickly diagnosed our problem.  “Your air conditioner belt broke, and knocked the other two off track.  I can put the alternator belt and the water pump belt back on.  Then you can drive, but you won’t have any air conditioning.”   I breathed a sigh of relief as I responded to him, “That sounds great”.  I glanced at my wife who was fishing a $20 bill from her purse.

 

He worked about fifteen minutes then announced, “Well, you are ready to go.  I recommend that you stop in San Angelo at the Ford dealer and have three new belts installed.  I will follow you in case you break another belt.”  I was amazed at his helpful man.  I offered him the $20 bill, but he refused to accept it.  Then he made a statement that really impressed all of us.  He said, “I don’t usually stop and help people.”  Before I could ask him why this was, he offered, “About ten years ago I stopped to help a female in her car on the roadside.  Her male friend was hiding, then he jumped me and hit me over the head and robbed me.  So I decided it was not worth the danger to stop and help any more.”

 

“Then, what made you stop and help us?”, I queried.  He looked at my wife and children, the replied, “Well, I don’t rightly know.  I just felt this urge inside me to stop and help.  I saw your wife and kids, you know.”

 

Since he refused any compensation for his work, we all got into our cars and headed south toward San Angelo.  I glanced in my rear view mirror several times and, sure enough, he was behind us, like a guardian angel.  I drove a little slower than normal to make sure he could keep up in his old truck.  On the outskirts of San Angelo I glanced into my mirror and noted that he was gone.  As suddenly as he appeared he had disappeared.

 

I had three new belts installed and resumed our trip back to our home in Houston.  We all pondered this event, this roadside mechanic who just happened to be driving by and rescued us.  Was it happenstance, or was it God sending us an angel when in distress?  After all, we did pray for God to help us, and doesn’t he answer prayer?