This happened a couple of years ago.
The day came for my “date”, with my wonderful ex-neighbour and dear friend. We were going to the skin doctor, a couple of hours away. We both had appointments.
We set off. We hadn’t been travelling long and it became obvious the weather was deteriorating, but we kept on. By the time we had been travelling an hour, it started to rain. The sky was black, and there was lightning all around us. The further we went, the heavier the rain got, and we could barely see the road ahead. We considered stopping and waiting till the weather improved, but there was too much traffic, and the road was too narrow to allow us to do this safely. So we kept on going, guided by the tail lights of the car in front of us. Large trucks were coming the other way, and as they hit the puddles on the road, we were further covered with water.
I don’t think either of us had been in such torrential weather. It was horrendous! Eventually we came to the turn off to the doctor’s, and turned into that road. Things were still bad. He found a parking place right outside the doctor’s, which was most opportune, but the gutters were full of water and fast running. He parked the car and told me I was not to get out till he was there to help me. For once I did as I was told, and took off my shoes and rolled up my slacks so I could get across the gutters a bit easier. He came round, opened the door (it was still pouring) took my bag and walking stick, and then held my hand as I walked through the gutter. Then helped me across the footpath, and up the ramp to the doctor’s. By this time we both looked like drowned rats, but I must admit it was fun paddling!
Once inside, we discovered the receptionist and doctor both running round with buckets and mops. They had multiple leaks and the computers wouldn’t work, and they had also had had power outages, although the power was back on by the time we arrived. So two drowned people fitted right in!. We went into the waiting room and waited our turn, and tried to dry off. We were both giggling about the state of affairs.
In due course it was my turn. The doctor, like me, has ataxia. He had a tumour on his neck, and to remove it they had to remove some of his cerebellum, so we compare notes on how we are both progressing. The actual examination went well, I only had a couple of suspicious “thingies” that needed removing by freezing, so I came out and waited while it was my friend’s turn. Well in due course he came back out with bits and pieces burned off him everywhere, and he had to make an appointment for surgery to his ear. He had also had some nasties burnt off his head, and they were rather sore.
Thank goodness by this time the rain had stopped, so we had a much easier trip home. We stopped at the local Mackers (McDonald’s) and had an icecream each. Had he felt better, we would have had something a little more exciting. I think we both deserved it!
Experiences like this one help us in a number of ways. Of course we appreciate God’s care in getting us from point A to point B safely, whether the journey was uneventful or “interesting” like this one was. I’m sure my friend was also thankful to have gone (in the long run at least) because the skin cancer that he needed to have removed a few weeks later was thankfully in the very early stages. Even so it required removal of part of his ear, and was, as you can imagine very sore initially. Had he not gone and had it not been sorted out, who knows what would have eventuated there?
And the companionship with a fellow Christian, the shared laughs, the shared joy in the Lord is a treasure of immense worth. Whenever we go anywhere together, we end up having a theology discussion. And laugh!
And we share chocolate!
It is such a joy to be able to have a Christian friendship. I appreciate the ones I have online, and I appreciate the ones I have “in the flesh”. There’s a depth to these friendships that exceeds normal friendship.
And I know they will continue in heaven!
Light of Christ 