I remember my first “day” on the job.  My boss had two work vehicles available; an old Ford Econoline van that clearly reflected its age and a brand new Dodge van.  I well remember him saying to me: “Bob, I don’t know you well enough to trust you with my new van so take the old Econoline van until I get a sense of whether I can trust you with the new van”.  I used the old van for almost the entire time we were in Sarasota.

One evening, when I reported for work, he said to me: “Bob, I’ve watched you and feel okay with you using the new van so why don’t you take it out tonight.  Needs gas though so stop down the road at the service station where I have my account and gas it up”.  I said sure thing and headed out.  Three blocks later, after gassing up, I got back on the road and, despite his confidence in me, promptly totaled it.  Give me a break. 

Flipped the van end-for-end.  Totaled the other vehicle as well.  Fortunately, I was uninjured although the next morning every muscle in my body hurt.  I had tensed up when I saw the crash coming.  After getting up that next morning, I went in to see the boss and face the music.  On seeing me, he asked if I was hurt and I replied “no but you have been hurt worse than me”.  He asked me what I meant and I said that I had destroyed his new van.  Funny thing was, he started laughing and said not to worry.  Said he had decided he could not afford the new van, that the insurance company would be paying it off, and my totaling the van was a blessing for him.  For me, it was funny for a different reason as I considered the irony of the fact that the very day he decides to trust me to take out his new van I total it.  I still chuckle when I consider it these days.

But more importantly, I mentioned that there was a hidden message in this funny event that warrants some thought.   You can imagine my complete surprise when, after crawling out of the wreck, I look up and see Don Paulson walking up.  I asked him how he happened to be there and he said they were eating at the restaurant across the street, saw the accident, and recognized me crawling out of the van.

I immediately connected a few dots as they say these days.  I noted that despite the fact that money was tight, Don and his family were eating out at a restaurant.  I also noted that Don and his family were not living anywhere close to where the accident occurred and their presence at this location was unusual.  I noted that I knew no one in Sarasota at that time other than the Paulsons and this was another dot.  And I noted that they were at the restaurant at the very time and place in which the accident occurred, in a position to see the accident itself, and in a position to recognize me and come out to check on me.

Don asked me if everything was alright.  My mind was, however, already headed down a different track and, having recognized that God’s hands were all over this event, replied: “Everything is in good hands”.  The State Trooper, who had arrived and by that time was standing beside me, took it to mean that I was referring to him and smiled.

So what is the hidden message?  It is a demonstration of God’s oversight and presence despite the outward appearance the wreck conveyed.  It conveys a hidden message that we should remember when we encounter events in our lives that, on the surface, seem really bad.