Have a Little Faith
It was just before midnight and I was driving home from the airport, alone. As I pulled onto the deserted highway I looked at my gas gauge, two blocks full. That’s strange I think, my husband always puts enough gas in the car if I am taking it to the airport. It’s a brand new car, but he must know and I want to get home. Five minutes later the low fuel light comes on and now there is half a block glowing on the gas gauge.
What??? First thought, perfect ending to my girls’ trip, are you kidding me? There are no gas stations anywhere. I am on a secluded highway with very few exits leading to nowhere. Yep, raped on the last day of vacation, great. I call my husband to yell at him, this has got to be someone else’s fault.
Through a confused and heated exchange, my husband guides me through complicated button pushing to discern I have 17 miles of gas left, yet 32 miles to my home. Houston we have a problem.
Ok, I’ll get off at the next major highway turn and hope there is a quick gas exit. I am in the middle of nowhere. Truckers flying by one after another. 13 miles of gas left, more yelling at my husband.
Finally I see an exit, there’s a Costco, home depot, but no gas station can I see. Nine miles left, panic rising, I take the exit.
As I drive up to the exit ramp, I am freaking out, and then it hits me, Kelly, what the hell are you doing freaking yourself out? You know you are divinely held, relax, call for Archangel Michael, relax, and through clenched teeth I say, I am fine. Fake ‘til you make it is my motto…
Suddenly on the radio I here the words, “Have a little faith in Me,” over and over. You know that John Hiatt song, which I don’t even like, but over and over I hear, “Have a little faith in me” and I am thinking relax, Kelly, it’s all ok. Help please. Where’s the help?
Just then a police car drives up next to me. Thank you God! I flag him down and we pull to the side of the road. He comes over to tell me directions and although normally he would lead me there, he can’t just now as he has a prisoner with him…do you hear the chuckling God?
I have eight miles of gas left, the officer believes I should make it but he will have another squad car run the route just in case. Great.
He walks back to his car and I think sarcastically, I love directions, I get lost in a paper sack. Fan-friggin-tastic. Pull it together Kelly, you’re held, remember you’re held. I hear the music then, Latin music coming from the radio. How did that happen? I never touched the station. And suddenly I’m laughing again; the Latin music is about the future. Smiling, I feel comforted and drive on; it’s got to be just ahead.
Four miles later, on the right, just as he said, there was the gas station. A SHELL station, I laugh again, I had been thinking about shells all day. On the beach that morning, as I packed my bag, and most importantly as I dreamed of the future…another reminder.
I filled up with gas and got back onto the road. I felt myself begin to panic with the ‘what if’s’ of worst-case scenario thinking – what could have happened. Kelly, relax. I laughed again and I was grateful. These past twenty minutes have foreshadowed the future. Yes, at times I will feel lost. Worried I will run out of gas…but I have faith. All matter of things will be well, I just have to remember I am divinely held and look for the help when I need it. So be it!
Tags: blame, girls trip, humor, husband, police, running out of gas, vacation








May 9th, 2010 at 3:20 am
Beautiful images! I appreciate the post so much!