File #935: "Mosaic_Spring2009_17.jpg"
Description
the battle against the water. The engine was gurgling as the fan blade wiped water up into the air. Bob expertly kept the engine running because if it stalled the consequences certainly would have been catastrophic. My heart was pounding while I wondered. Would this be the time that we would not make it? Would someone find our bodies days later? By the grace of God, the tires gripped a rock at the most opportune time propelling us through the water for it seemed like the current had trapped us in the middle of the river. My fears were not confirmed, and we safely made it to the bank. Even though this was a good thing, the water had forced us too far down stream, and we missed the driveway; consequently, the truck was stuck against an eleven inch embankment.
Feeling the adrenaline of the moment, I jumped out of the truck into the creek and said, "I'll get the tractor."
While I was getting the tractor, my mom and my sister also took advantage of the opportunity to exit the sinking ship. With Bob still in the truck, I waded into the water and hooked the up chain. While I was trying to pull the immobile truck out of the creek, the tractor actually rode a wheelie at one point. It really seemed like the truck was not going to budge. I tried both pulling slowing and yanking. The tractor was getting hot and the truck was not moving.
About that time, Bob yelled to me, "You are not going to believe this, but the truck has been in park the whole time." Of course at this point, I was thinking, "He is a complete idiot."
Nevertheless, I tried pulling the truck one more time. With a heave and a hoe this time it came right out of the creek. It seemed funny that once the truck was not in park any more pulling it out of the creek really was not a problem. At one point I was afraid that we were going to have to leave the box truck in the creek that night, but it did not turn out that way. This just goes to show that sometimes life's tough problems have simple answers. The waters receded and we continued to have fun in the creek, never forgetting that it could be a dangerous place for people and vehicles alike.
While we were up at the house out of dangers way, Bob said to me, "Boy I sure am glad that we all made it home tonight."
As an adult I feel like a lesson was learned in that creek on that rainy night. Whenever I face troubled waters in my life, I try to remember that if I wait for the answer there will be a simple solution. If I will stay on the right course, the answer will come to me like a tractor on a rainy night to pull me right out of my own rough waters.
Photo by Jeff Woodside
Feeling the adrenaline of the moment, I jumped out of the truck into the creek and said, "I'll get the tractor."
While I was getting the tractor, my mom and my sister also took advantage of the opportunity to exit the sinking ship. With Bob still in the truck, I waded into the water and hooked the up chain. While I was trying to pull the immobile truck out of the creek, the tractor actually rode a wheelie at one point. It really seemed like the truck was not going to budge. I tried both pulling slowing and yanking. The tractor was getting hot and the truck was not moving.
About that time, Bob yelled to me, "You are not going to believe this, but the truck has been in park the whole time." Of course at this point, I was thinking, "He is a complete idiot."
Nevertheless, I tried pulling the truck one more time. With a heave and a hoe this time it came right out of the creek. It seemed funny that once the truck was not in park any more pulling it out of the creek really was not a problem. At one point I was afraid that we were going to have to leave the box truck in the creek that night, but it did not turn out that way. This just goes to show that sometimes life's tough problems have simple answers. The waters receded and we continued to have fun in the creek, never forgetting that it could be a dangerous place for people and vehicles alike.
While we were up at the house out of dangers way, Bob said to me, "Boy I sure am glad that we all made it home tonight."
As an adult I feel like a lesson was learned in that creek on that rainy night. Whenever I face troubled waters in my life, I try to remember that if I wait for the answer there will be a simple solution. If I will stay on the right course, the answer will come to me like a tractor on a rainy night to pull me right out of my own rough waters.
Photo by Jeff Woodside