And Then You Just Start Praying

Every once in a while your priorities get a jolt. It was a Thursday morning. I try to get home on Friday, as early as possible, and then leave out on Sunday. On Wednesday night I backed into the customer's dock in Eureka, MO. They would start unloading a 07:00. My plan was to wake up earlier than that and walk about a mile to the convenience store/ gas station for coffee and be back before they started. The load was paper rolls. They usually get unloaded quickly. By 08:00, I was empty and on my way.

The next load picked up in Jackson, Mo. It was about 120 mile dead head. That load went up to Green Bay (home). The load paid 579 miles. Thoughts of making it home Thursday night started dancing in my head. I realize covering that 700 miles in a day is something that is at best a maybe. That thought was quickly vanquished. 10 miles from the consignee, traffic came to a stand still. There were no construction signs. It was heading north on I44 about 5 miles south of I270.

Soon, I saw emergency equipment including an ambulance and a fire truck heading south. They would soon be coming up behind us. A Missouri State Trooper negotiated his way through the stopped traffic. I44 is four lanes there and traffic seemed to be heading to the far left lane. The three right lanes were blocked by an accident. Four wheelers blocked the three lanes and a few were pulled off on the shoulders.

Then I saw the motorcycle on the ground. That trooper was kneeling next to the biker with his hands on his shoulders. The biker was motionless. The best thing that I could do was keep going. Automatically, I crossed myself and I prayed. It is part faith and part coping mechanism. If you drive long enough, you will see some gruesome sights. Usually the best thing that you can do is clear that zone and let the professionals ply their craft. You can also say a little prayer as you drive away.

When Roxanne (my wife) had her fall, many of the teachers just cried. She was motionless and bloody. One of the teachers prayed as Roxanne was being attended to my first the school nurse and the EMS services. The injuries were severe. Spinal cord surgery was required. That was followed by a difficult rehab. Her surgeon constantly said that Roxanne is “lucky”. Many people with her injuries end up paralyzed. Then Roxanne reminds him of her friend who prayed. Some days, my faith is not as strong as it should be. Some days, prayer is “just” a coping mechanism. Some days, it is the best thing that you can do.