It was the end of July 2019, and my wife and I were travelling home to Winnipeg, Manitoba from Calgary, Alberta on Highway 1 in Canada. We had been blessed to spend a number of weeks with our family and friends in Western Canada. It has been our habit to always pray for a safe journey when travelling, given the many road accidents that occur daily. We had also committed this trip into the Lord’s hands.
We planned to travel with our car from Calgary to Regina, Saskatchewan to stay in a hotel for one night and then continue home the next day to Winnipeg. This would break up the 14-hour journey into two more manageable drives. We were only a few hours from our first destination when the totally unexpected happened. My dashboard alerted me that one of my tires was losing air. We were on a major highway, and as the tire pressure continued to drop, we knew we had to stop soon. It seemed like we were in the middle of nowhere, yet not far ahead we spotted a gas station. We slowed down and drove to the gas station and stopped. I went outside to hear the one tire hissing, and soon it was totally flat. Later, at an auto shop, they showed us the large five-centimeter nail that had flattened our tire. Thank God we had just enough time to reach this gas station without any harm occurring!
As we pondered what to do next, a camper van arrived at the gas station. After the camper had been refueled, it pulled over next to us. A friendly, middle-aged man got out and looked at our flat tire. His name was Lee, and he offered to help us. He got out my spare tire and tools to change the flat. Lee let us know that he was travelling out west for work, while we explained that we were heading east to our home in Winnipeg. Lee was very proficient at changing tires, and soon the new tire was in place and our flat tire was in the trunk. God had sent us a Good Samaritan who was a blessing in time of need!
While Lee was changing our tire, his girlfriend Carol appeared and spoke to us. She was very friendly and kind as well. Lee began to work on his camper while we continued talking to her. She explained how she had met Lee and that they were both travelling out west to see where work and life would take them. As she began to share her life’s journey, I realized that she was seeking truth. She described investigating spiritual pathways that appeared to lead into darkness and offered no hope. I began to share with her that Jesus was the light of the world and that through Him we could step out of darkness into the light of God. From my own life, I shared that Jesus could change our hearts and set us free from sin and bondage (see John 3).
I could tell that Carol was longing for the way of light and the peace that only Jesus could offer. She mentioned some of the books she was reading, and I offered her a copy of the Gospel of John from the Gideons, which I always try to have with me in the car. I asked her to read it prayerfully and study the wonderful life of Jesus, who wished to walk with her in a new life of light and truth. She was very thankful for this, and I could sense God opening her heart to His Word.
Lee returned and said it was time to depart. After saying our goodbyes, they headed off on their journey west, and we were able to continue our journey home. As we drove eastward, we were left wondering about this encounter. In some 40 years of driving, we cannot remember ever having a flat tire while driving. Why now? How did this large nail flatten our tire just then? Why did this couple just happen to be travelling by in need of gas and were willing to help us? As we pondered this, it became evident that God wanted us to witness to this searching soul and her friend, and He knew that a flat tire would bring us together to share the Gospel with them.
One day, the apostle Paul was led to a prayer meeting by a river in Philippi where God opened Lydia’s heart to understand the Gospel, and she believed and became a Christian. Our prayer is that Carol and Lee’s hearts will also be open to God’s Spirit and that they too will walk in His light. Let us all be open to sharing God’s Word with others lost in darkness. Carry a Gospel or New Testament and a copy of our Foundation of Faith magazine with you and ask God to guide you to seeking hearts. You never know who God will put in your path in His perfect way and timing.
Harry Klinger
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Be the first to comment