The date was December 16, 2009. It was one of those beautiful, but very cold, California winter days, and a greatly anticipated one I might add. That evening my sister and I, and one of our dear friends, were to attend the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra’s production of Handel’s Messiah, at the beautiful Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. Little did we know that the unforeseen and daunting experience we would have that night, would forever impact our lives.
We pulled into the parking structure of that magnificent concert hall, with only 15 minutes till curtain call. As we rushed out of the car and headed towards the elevators, the parking attendant brought our attention to the fact that our back tire was low. “You might want to get some air put in that tire,” he told us. “There is a gas station about five miles west on Olympic Blvd. I am sure they’ll be able to help.”
We looked at each other, checked the time, and made the unanimous decision that it could wait until after the concert – foolishly never giving thought to how late it might be when the event was over, whether the gas station would be open at that time of night, and the most important factor, we were right smack in the middle of a “not so great” area in downtown Los Angeles.
The concert was a spiritual experience! We headed for our car, along with the masses, grateful that we were able to participate in such a glorious event. But upon arriving at the car, the euphoria was quickly replaced with deep concern, when we saw that our low tire was now almost flat.
We immediately started looking for the parking attendant but he was nowhere to be found. People were exiting at a very rapid pace, and we soon found ourselves standing, rather helplessly, in an almost empty parking structure. And, to add to our anxiety, we found out there was no spare tire in the trunk. (Side note – my husband had taken the spare tire earlier to have it repaired and hadn’t put it back.) But not only did we not have a spare tire, two of our three cell phones were dead. The third one just barely had some battery left, but would not work in the parking structure. We then realized what a serious predicament we were in.
We quickly decided that we had no choice but to drive the car slowly, on the flat tire, to the nearest gas station that we could find open. None of us were familiar with that part of downtown LA, so we offered a prayer for safety and help, then started off in the direction the parking attendant had told us to go.
After about fifteen minutes, we came to an all night gas station, with a small mini market attached. We were so relieved! Our plan was to purchase some “tire fixit,” fill the tire with air, and then cautiously head for home.
Joanna called her husband, on the only working cell phone we had, and informed him of our plight. She told him not to worry, that we had found a gas station that was open where hopefully we’d be able to get the tire fixed. She also told him that if we couldn’t get it repaired, she would call him back and he could come and get us.
The gas station was a very scary place! By then it was extremely late and every indigent person in the area, who was awake, was hovering at that station. Then there was us! Three women, alone, all dressed up, in an extremely nice car, with a flat tire.
Joanna volunteered to brave the mini market in search of some “tire fixit”, while my sister Sherry and I headed for the air pump. We soon found out that the pump required quarters, three to be exact, which is exactly what we had between the two of us. Instantly the machine swallowed them up, but no air came on.
I left Sherry at the pump and headed towards the mini market for Joanna, and to see if I could get someone to help us. I am sad to say, that the first two men out of the mini market ignored my plea for help, got in their cars and drove away. Joanna came out just as discouraged as I was. She couldn’t find any “tire fixit” or anyone willing to help us, not even the employee in the mini market. We figured it was time to call her husband and have him come and get us. But to our dismay, her cell phone had died and there were no public telephones anywhere. We now began to panic!
All the while, sitting quietly up against the outside wall of the mini market, was an old homeless man. I noticed him sitting there as I made another desperate plea to a man getting gas, who also turned me down. Then suddenly, the homeless man leaped to his feet and came over to me. “Can I help you Ma’am?” he asked. “Is there something I can do?”
I was shocked as to how scantily he was dressed on such a cold, cold night! He had on dirty, thin, cotton pajamas, and an old pair of ragged slippers on his feet, with no jacket or coat of any kind. Instantly I felt an ache in my heart for his lowly condition and yet filled with hope that somehow this poor old homeless man could actually help us. “Yes!” I answered. “Thank you so much for offering. If you can get the air pump to work and help us fill our flat tire, maybe we’ll be able to make it home.”
He quickly ran over to the pump where my sister was still trying to get it to work. He took the pump from her and then realized that it wouldn’t work without quarters. Then something happened that was so astonishing, so touching, and so unforgettable, that it was hard to believe! This cold, dirty old homeless man reached deep into his pajama bottom pocket and pulled out the only money he had, three quarters. Exactly what we needed! Without the least bit of hesitation he put his only three quarters in the machine and the air immediately came on. Tears flooded my eyes as I witnessed the joy that came over our homeless rescuer.
At that moment, a young man drove up in a beautiful, brand new white SUV. Having quickly assessed the situation, he got out of his car and walked over to us. He was nicely dressed, extremely polite, and asked if he could be of assistance. We expressed our heartfelt gratitude to him for stopping to help. Then gently he placed his hand on the shoulder of the old homeless man and said “I got it covered now brother, I can take it from here.”
The young man, quite miraculously, was able to fix our tire with things he had in his trunk. After putting the tire back on our car, he assured us that we were good to go and would be able to safely make it home.
We took a few minutes to visit with him and to offer some payment for his service, but he wouldn’t accept anything but thanks from us.
He was a most remarkable young man! All this time, the old homeless man remained silently by our side.
As the young man got into his vehicle to leave, we turned towards our lingering old friend, to offer him some food from the mini market, but he was gone! We searched all over for him. We even walked to the front of the gas station, looked up and down the empty streets, but there was no sign of him anywhere. He had simply vanished!
It is hard to explain, in rational or logical terms, what happened to us that night. But rational or logical explanations don’t hold up when one has an encounter with an angel, or should I say angels.
That special night, December 16, 2009, will live forever in the hearts and minds of three women who needed help desperately, prayed for that help and received it from angels “bending near the earth.”
One of our angels was a young African American man. Clean, well dressed, extremely respectful, smart, articulate, driving a beautiful white luxury SUV, obviously blessed with the material comforts and luxuries of the world. The other was an old, poor, dirty, homeless African American man with absolutely nothing of earthly value, except for three quarters. But no matter how different their individual circumstances, both were ministering angels, both were on the Lord’s errand, both came to our rescue.
Ever since that unforgettable night, I have come to realize just how great a blessing it is to be rescued! I was blessed to experience personally, deep heartfelt gratitude for another’s sacrifice for me.
That Christmas Eve as I read Luke 2 with my family, those beautiful verses took on new meaning. I suddenly realized how very personal the message is. Note how often the angel uses the pronoun “you” instead of “mankind.”
“ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10-12)
It became very clear to me that this angelic announcement, heralding the birth of the promised Messiah of all mankind, was also meant to be a very personal message, a personal gift, to each and every one of us as individuals.
Though Jesus is the Savior of the world, he redeemed the world one soul at a time, in proxy and by name. Our Lord and Savior, the great I Am, is the ultimate rescuer, in time and throughout all eternity.
This much-needed message of personal rescue is one of light, hope, charity, love and concern. And if we will embrace and cherish it, and cherish Him, we will become like Him.
His light will shine in us and thru us. It will shine in our homes, in and around all those we love. It will inspire us to reach out and help rescue others. It will rescue us, comfort, heal us, and light our way as we journey in this dark world. For the scriptures tell us that this glorious light comes from God’s presence and fills the earth, just as it did long ago when the most powerful love and light in the universe came down to earth and laid in a manger.
My daughter wrote a beautiful message in their family Christmas card. “This Christmas, have a very special silent night, hear the angels sing, remember whose birthday we celebrate, and ask yourself “what gift will I give?”
Whether we are destitute with only three quarters in our pocket, or richly blessed with material comforts, the message is the same. We can all help rescue; we can all be givers. And as we strive to do this, the light of Christ will shine in our faces, and we will have the Spirit of Christmas with us every day, and we will have joy. “Men are that might have joy.” (2Ne. 2:25)
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
