A Beacon
Many years ago, I was traveling across Texas to train a group of colleagues. We all worked for the Department of Transportation, so I asked several people around the office, “How far is Wichita Falls (Texas) from here?” The answer was consistently, “4 hours. Straight up I-35”. I had planned to leave at 10am, but decided since it was only four hours, I could leave at noon, and still get there before dark. So, a little after the noon hour, I headed out with Luther Vandross crooning. I stopped to get a sandwich at a well-known sub-shop, ate it in the parking lot while sipping on a lemonade. I took off!
I had never been to this part of Texas, so I was unfamiliar with the highway. There was construction on the road. After several more heavy-trafficked, stop-and-go miles, I bopped myself on the head when I realized that I should have stayed with my plan to leave Austin at 10am.
It was Fall. It was cold and rainy. It was starting to get dark. It was foggy, and the visibility was bad. I was driving slowly. I was nervous. I didn’t know where I was going. I prayed for a beacon of light. No Smart or Android phone could help me.
Over the hill, a UPS truck pulled around me, and got out in the lead. It had 7 lights across the back. I have NO idea where it came from, but I thanked God for it, shouted Hallelujah, and followed the truck, its lights shining brightly. I could tell there was a ravine on the right side of the road, so I was so grateful for this miracle. It was now completely dark.
When we crossed into the city limits, the UPS truck turned off to the right, and disappeared into the fog. I kept going, got to my hotel, checked in, and breathed a sigh of relief. Slept like a baby.
The next morning, I called UPS HQ where I have friends in senior positions. I wanted to tell them how their truck saved my life. I was told, “we did not have a truck in that area last night”. I insisted, and they persisted, “none of our trucks were in the area”. I said, “ But it had 7 lights across the back of the truck.” They said, we do not own trucks like you are describing.” I was stunned!
Often, in our efforts to control everything and do everything in our own strength as a leader, we forget that we are mere humans, and need to take time to reflect on what is happening around us. In other words, ‘pause for the cause’, realizing that some things are simply unexplainable.
In essence, even when are at our best and successfully leading an organization or team, we forget these simple spiritual principles: prayer changes things, when blessed by a miracle we must be thankful for it, and that the greatest leader of all-time is a BEACON who is beyond our understanding, but not out of our reach to bring us humbly to the light!