CHECKLISTS
I have checklists. Sometimes mental, most times in my barely readable chicken scratch on my legal pad, but always urgent things to do, and clearing the multiplying checklist is my daily priority.One of the items on my daily checklist was to meet and exchange a preliminary design of a plan and to give a brief overview. My fellow multi-tasker and I devised a scheme to cheat the clock a tad by meeting in a shopping center parking lot right off the loop 101 interstate.
I was on time, she was tardy to the party… not by much, but I count minutes like an inmate does his last sixty… I had my truck backed into a space backward, strategically parked under the shade of a healthy Palo Verde tree. I was making and taking phone calls, devouring my checklist like Pac-man does cookies and cherries.
I spotted a little gold single cab Ford Ranger make its way into the parking lot and move with uncertainty diagonally across the empty rows in the ghostlike parking lot. He stopped two rows across from where I was parked with my windows down and driver’s door open.
I could hear the starter cranking the little engine that didn’t want to until it finally coughed and fired and made it all of across another row of parking spaces when it called it quits for good just across from where I was parked.
I could see the dark complexioned man with the smooth shaved head that sported gold-framed sunglasses that have been reborn from the seventies, lean over his steering wheel as he held the key and ignition twisted in the forward start position.
He continued to crank the little engine that wouldn’t until it was obvious the mini pick-up had taken the rugged-looking young man as far as it was going to in its present condition.
The tall and well-built man took matters into his own hands, legs, and feet. He hopped out and shoved the little floundering truck with ease across one more row of the faded parking lot and spaces, just one space down from me under the next available desert shade tree.
By the time I finally got off the phone he was off his too and back inside his truck, his chin buried in his chest.
“Is it overheated or not getting gas?” I called out to him.
His head snapped in surprise, “Uhh – it’s gas – I’m outta gas,” he answered with chagrin.
“I gotta meeting here any minute now. When I’m done I’ll help you out,” I told him.
His dark eyebrows rose above the gold-framed sunglasses in surprise and question, “You sure?” he asked.
“I’m sure,” I answered, “Soon as I’m done I’ll take you to the gas station.”
As I drove the young man to the gas station we talked about peripheral details that don’t truly matter to total strangers. I told him about the time I ran out of gas eighty miles out into the desert in the middle of the summer. I chuckled at what was once a serious mistake. He smiled with understanding and gratitude.
Sometimes I think we’re not called to be the voice of God… just His heart and hands…
It’s an amazing gift to hear truly genuine thankfulness in another person’s voice. That day I was divinely reminded that sometimes our urgent checklists aren’t quite as pressing as we make them out to be…
Lisa notes
Sunday, August 23, 2015 @ 5:28 pm
You have a beautiful heart, Floyd. I love this line: “Sometimes I think we’re not called to be the voice of God… just His heart and hands…” Amen, brother. I’d like to hear the story from the other guy’s side as well. Beautiful all the way around. And the Pac-Man reference, I so get. 🙂
Brad gore
Sunday, August 23, 2015 @ 6:32 pm
Floyd
Your a gift to many of us. Thanks for being there for so many of us in so many ways
Hazel Moon
Sunday, August 23, 2015 @ 10:47 pm
Your story is definitely one of those God encounters. The angels were busy that day so God sent you to help the gentleman. Running out of gas is not fun. It only happened to me once, and “almost,” one other time driving across country with daughter Becky. Our car started to sputter. The gauge read empty and we had been so busy talking we failed to notice. Immediately I prayed, “Jesus please let us run on fumes until we reach that gas station I see about a half mile down the highway.” We made it with not much gas to spare and from then on I try to never go below a quarter of a tank. Great story check lists and all. In business keeping a check list is a must. (I do sometime write a grocery list, but I am not usually a check list person.)
Barb Raveling
Sunday, August 23, 2015 @ 11:27 pm
So glad you helped this guy, Floyd! It reminds me of my own out-of-gas story. I was 20 years old, driving in the middle of nowhere in Wyoming with not a clue of how much gas was in the tank. All of a sudden my ancient bright green Datsun pickup started to slow down and sputtered to a stop right in front of a lone little white house alongside the road with a barn in the back.
I knocked on the door and a guy came out. I told him my truck had died, thinking it was something mechanical. He said, “Do you have gas in it?” I said, “I have no idea,” cheering up at the thought that maybe that’s all it was. We went around behind his house where he had a huge tank of gas and he filled some into a container and put it into my truck.
A few minutes later I cheerily drove off, listening to his friendly reminder to check my gas more often. 🙂 It’s always wonderful to have a knight in shining armor when you need one. 🙂
Bill (cycleguy)
Monday, August 24, 2015 @ 8:12 am
Our urgent checklists aren’t quite as pressing as we make them out to be. WOW! True words! You showed the heart of the Father there Floyd.
Betty Draper
Monday, August 24, 2015 @ 10:47 am
That gentlemen will never forget you brother. I can remember everyone who has helped in that kind of situation which have been few thank God, but enough to move my heart to help others. He was on God’s check list for you that day which is always more important then ours. Our spiritual words are useless unless we put hands and feet to them when called upon…you’re a blessings Floyd…
June
Monday, August 24, 2015 @ 10:52 am
Such a great post, Floyd! I love that you are open to the divine appointments that God puts on your schedule.
Shandra White Harris
Monday, August 24, 2015 @ 5:31 pm
God is in the details…& Divine Appointments. Great story. visiting you this week from Hazel’s #TMATS linkup. Feel free to visit back in anytime.
Cheryl Smith
Monday, August 24, 2015 @ 8:29 pm
You truly have a heart of gold, Floyd. No doubt about it. I can see God’s fingerprints all over this…your friend being late, the guy “just happening” to be running out of gas as you sat there, then pushing his vehicle into the place near yours…the whole thing. I love reading stories like this. This is why we are put here…not to see through each other, but to see each other through. Jesus said by this all men would know that we are His disciples…if we have love for one another. The love of Jesus shines through you in a big, consistent way, and we are all so blessed to walk this blogging path with you. God bless you for your heart for God and others.
Caleb Suko
Monday, August 24, 2015 @ 11:46 pm
I like this story Floyd, I like that you were not afraid to break from your schedule and help the young man. I struggle with that sometimes, sometimes I feel like my ministry schedule can keep me from some real ministry opportunities to help those in need that I have not “scheduled” for. I think I need to be more sensitive to the the Holy Spirit’s leading in those matters.
Hazel Moon
Tuesday, August 25, 2015 @ 6:28 pm
Thank you Floyd for sharing your awesome post with us here at “Tell Me a Story.” http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/ Oh Yes, I hovered over your “icon” at Tell me a Story, and shared it on Face Book.
Joanne Norton
Tuesday, August 25, 2015 @ 8:38 pm
For years and years you’ve been doing certain things at certain times. Always just hope that you will be OK and, as usual, have many people near you and around our nation and around the world. You’re a treat! Bless you, Bro.
Jennifer Dougan
Wednesday, August 26, 2015 @ 6:43 am
I love this, Floyd, and it’s something I have been trying to remind myself of too. Thanks.
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
Dolly@Soulstops
Thursday, August 27, 2015 @ 11:05 am
Floyd,
I love this story and God’s providence…you blessed that young man and you showed Him God’s love in a tangible way…this reminds me of the time we had a flat and a total stranger helped drive my husband and I to a shop, otherwise we would have been walking in the dark by the time we got there….many blessings to you 🙂
saleslady371
Thursday, August 27, 2015 @ 6:34 pm
Those Palo Verde trees are a safe haven in the AZ heat. I found one the other day as I stopped in Anthem and it felt like I hit the jackpot! I can just imagine what a bright spot you were in that gentleman’s day! These kind of interruptions are divine…no words needed. Bless you.