The winter storm came hard and unforgiving, driving was almost impossible, cars were spinning off the interstate and some just pulled over to wait the storm out. I saw an exit that was not snowed over and cautiously turned off the interstate. The road was an old backroad winding through the forest and farmlands. I could only hope I had made the right choice perhaps I would find out soon enough.
After several hours of driving seeing no signs of civilization, the gas gauge was down to a quarter of a tank. I could feel a hopelessness and it felt like a weight on my heart. In the distance on a ridge, I saw an old abandoned Church and I feared I would not get there as I felt the tires spinning on the steep hill. Inch by inch the car slowly gained the hill and I pulled into the Church parking lot, grabbed my duffel bag, and walked toward the doors.
The winds were so powerful that I could barely walk, and lowered my head leaning into the wind, and finally made it up the steps I noticed a plaque that read, Welcome All Wayfarers Enter And find Sanctuary, I knew that I too had sanctuary from the storm, a place to shelter.
I sat on the front pew and stared at the stained glass windows knowing that I was lost, hungry, and had an empty tank of gas for the car. Oddly It was not very cold, and I pulled out my sleeping bag and laid down on the pew. A quiet prayer in thanks for finding shelter asking for nothing more than the quiet of the Church.
I was awakened by the sound of a door slamming outside, yet I felt no fear here only a deep feeling of serenity. A man walked in wearing a cowboy hat and a thick barn coat carrying a thermos and a bag with food. He said, “Hi I am sure you can use some hot coffee; I saw your car as I was heading home and knew you were lost.” Seems he lived a ways past the church and his father had been the Pastor here for many years. After he passed the Interstate was built, and people stopped coming here to worship it was boarded up and abandoned.
The morning sun shined through the stained glass windows casting colors on the Altar and I could hear the songbirds singing and I knew this would be a better day.
I saw no sign of the Pastor’s son, so I packed up and made my way to my car. The car started on the first try and to my surprise the gas gauge registered full and a basket of sandwiches was in the back seat. Truly I found shelter from the storm and yet I wondered if the Pastor’s son really there or perhaps I met an Angel and he gave me comfort and sanctuary on a stormy night.
