Have you ever been in the middle of a really neat adventure, like climbing down the face of a sheer rock, four thousand feet above the valley floor, and looked up to see your rope starting to fray and break – one itty bitty strand at a time?

Well, ’twas the day before Christmas and outside of Sam’s, daughter Kathleen was downloading Sparky, and we were fixin’ to go buy some batteries, film, cookies and pies! Our time schedule was pretty tight. There were lots and lots of last minute shoppers.

Kathi came home from northern Georgia to join both her brothers and her parents for the Christmas holidays. First time we’d all been together in more than 15 years. Kathi and I decided we’d go to Sam’s and pick up some things for Pat. It was about 2:00 pm. Now, I happen to own the neatest, coolest, most powerful electric wheelchair in the world. It’s made by the Hoveround Corporation in nearby Manatee County. I’m able to walk short distances, but can’t handle the long haul any more due to a bad accident in 1984.

While Kathi was downloading my chariot (I named it “Sparky” after Florida’s electric chair) she noticed a roofing nail in the tire. She pulled it out and heard the dreaded “psssssssssssss” sound. Even pushing the nail back in didn’t stop the noise.

She came around to the driver’s side of Tonka 02 and apologized profusely. I told her that we needed to hurry to a phone and call Hoveround. Have you ever driven on a flat tire? If so, you know the familiar sounds, “flop, squish, flop, squish, etc.” Every time the wheel rotated, that’s the sounds we heard.

I didn’t actually think anyone would be around the factory. I figured they were all shut down a little early for Christmas vacation. Sure enough, no one answered the phone. However, I did get an option to listen to a phone listing. I started going down through the names and finally heard that magic word – Robin!

Robin, who works in the customer service department, has been extremely helpful to me on several occasions. I really didn’t dare think that she’d still be there. She and her son love to go fishing on their boat. It was a beautiful day for fishing. On the first ringy-dingy, a real live Robin picked up the phone. I explained my problem. She said, “I was within five minutes of leaving for Christmas, but I’ll be right over.” She showed up quickly in one of Hoveround’s sharp vans. Ultimately, Robin had tools and parts spread over a large area right in front of Sam’s. She even had to go back to the factory to get another part.

Within an hour, Sparky was up and running on brand new tires. Robin was off to other commitments and we were able to complete our shopping. Kathi and I spent the rest of the day marvelling at how God had worked out such a neat solution to a serious problem.

This whole story could have had a very different ending. We could have found a flat tire twenty miles from Hoveround rather than two miles. Robin could have already gone for Christmas or decided not to pick up a phone that might convey still another problem with which to deal. She could have been unwilling to come, on her own personal time, and take care of our problems.

My point is this: Because of the kind and willing efforts of a really fine employee, my ox got out of the ditch! (Luke 14:5“Then he asked them, ‘If one of you has an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?’”) I wasn’t the least bit surprised at her attitude and actions. She’d shown me this dedication to her job on several occasions before.

As we parted, I said to Robin, “There is a God, you know. And today, you are one of His angels! Thank you very, very much.” Her reply? “Yes, there is a God and the most important part of my job is helping people. It fills a void inside of me!”

My best counsel on the eve of a new year? Go and do likewise! Maybe you’re a Robin in disguise!

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