Writings By Phil

August 13, 2016

This month, Jackie and I celebrated 33 years together. I surprised her and took her for a ride on the Sun Rail, a commuter train that runs to Orlando and beyond.

Waiting on the platform was so hot! I was soon soaked with sweat and we still had half hour to wait. All the benches on our side were ablaze with sun. No way was I going to wait there! I knew the northbound side was just as hot, but “northbound” sounded cooler, and the benches there, at least, were shadowed in hot shade. I opted that we cross over and wait there. The attendant agreed and said something about the auto train, but I was only half listening. All I wanted to do was get out of the sun!

We sat on the other side, talking, and taking selfies of ourselves by the railroad tracks and in front of the Sun Rail sign. About eight minutes before our train was to arrive, the alarm sounded. We thought about crossing back, but remembered the warning, “Don’t cross the tracks when the buzzer sounds and the lights flash!” If it was the northbound Sun Rail I knew it would stop for less than a minute and we would be across in plenty of time, to catch our train.

Whatever was coming was taking its precious time! At last it lumbered into the station, the tracks groaning under the heavy load and the steel wheels squeaking, “I think I can, I think I can!” Instead of Sun Rail, it was Amtrak, the auto train and it did not stop. Now, it made sense what the attendant was trying to tell us, and I was worried that maybe we should have crossed to the other side at the first warning before the lights flashed.

It was the longest, slowest Amtrak train I had ever seen. Jackie suggested we run to the far end of the platform and be ready to cross as soon as the last car rumbled by. I went as fast as bad knees would allow, a wimpy, limpy excuse for running. I was quickly out of breath and wondered which would get me first, heatstroke or heart attack? We reached the end of the platform about the same time as the last car on the northbound. We ran across and to my dismay, our southbound train was already at the platform. Jackie kicked into high gear and left me in the dust. She almost made the open doors of the train! The Sun Rail does not wait for those who ALMOST make the open doors. It has to be on time, and apparently, we did too! We missed our train!

I had not listened to the attendant because I just wanted to find shade. We dawdled too long on the other side, nor had we seized the opportunity to cross when the buzzer first sounded. Now, we had another half hour to wait.

This time we retuned to the parking lot and sat in our car and turned on the AC on high; no more sitting in hot shade! I hoped, too, that our sweat-soaked clothing would dry. We resolved that, this time, we would be ready and get back on the platform long before the next train arrived.

We did, and made it to Winter Park, a quaint little town right north of Orlando with brick streets, and lots of flowers and trees lining the way. We walked around checking out the restaurant menus and finally settled on a Turkish eatery. The prices were more than I wanted to pay, but as Jackie said, “It was a whole lot cheaper to try Turkish food here, than to go to Turkey and try it there!” I had to agree! Besides, it was our anniversary!

I share this experience because it reminds me of my life. I know God has a plan for my life. I know He gives opportunities to serve him. Sadly, I don’t always listen real well to Him, either. I am so concerned about my own comfort that I miss His instructions or warnings. I busy myself with things that maybe aren’t bad, but things that keep me from completing His will for me in that hour. Instead of hurrying to do His bidding, I dawdle along the way and miss my opportunity to complete my assignment, which was the whole reason God had me standing on the platform in the first place!

Maybe you can relate to this story, too!