Bill, Buster, Gas and God

Now that title probably has some of you wondering what this is about, I can only hope that it will cause you to read the blog in it's entirety as I believe you will be blessed.  No, this is not about people who ate bad food and smell really bad so get over that one.

It all started as we packed up out camper and headed home from Pigeon Forge.  The family and I took the weekend to spend some time together and enjoyed the rain (no really we did enjoy the fact that we just rested although we did get a little wet at times).  We crossed the Smoky Mountain's with ease and entered Franklin, NC, as we did I noticed my gas hand getting close to the 1/4 tank level and mentioned we would need gas.  I even had Tina look up the best gas prices on our route.  We continued on our way.

As you might imagine now some of what this story is about.  As we passed through Franklin, I decided to go on to Dillard for gas about 15 miles further, no problem given just under 1/4 tank of fuel right?  WRONG!  The truck began to sputter like it was out of gas, but the gauge reads as if I have fuel.  I have never had a problem with the gauge before.  The engine shut off and I wiggled like a Nascar driver hoping to suck enough fuel up to get us to the next gas pump.  We coasted probably 3 miles before it completely died.

I sat there wondering what to do next as it was raining very hard at the time.  I decided to walk up the drive way of the home we stopped in front of to ask for help.  This is where the story really begins to make me understand what was happening.  I knocked at the door and no one responded, so like most people I knocked again (not really I just didn't want to get wet walking to get gas).  Anyway I heard some stumbling and a man answered the door.  He told me he was sorry but had just had knee surgery and it took him a few minutes to get to me.

Embarrassed I told him about my dilemma and asked for his assistance.  He said he could help due to his health but offered to call someone for me.  After calling several people and getting the same no answer response he said, "I can't let a fellow camper down when they need help" and began to put his shoes on, to which I objected.  We walked to the door and saw that someone had stopped to help.  I expressed my appreciation and walked down to the truck to see what kind of help I was getting.  There I found Bill talking to Tina through the window and we introduced one another.  Bill offered to take me to Dillard for gas and off we went, while his wife and kids waiting with Tina in another car as they were traveling separate.  Come to find out Bill was raised in Habersham as a boy and we talked about some of his family, he even told me about coming to Christ under the leadership of pastor Billy Burrell.  He had seen me coming up the hill at Dillsboro and had stopped for something in Franklin, passed us broke down and turned around to help.  I was amazed at how God placed someone to help me just when I needed it.

But that is not the story that I want you to know.  I realized after I talked to Buster, the man's house the truck finally quit in front of.  When the truck started to run out of fuel it kept running for several miles to his drive way and I believe it was for a reason.  How do I know?  Well I run out of gas more than the average person and I know my truck.  When I have run out of gas before it just dies and will not restart.  That is why I could not believe I was on empty because it ran for so long before completely dying.  Anyway God had plans for me and that is why my gauge is off this time.

During my time with Buster, before Bill stopped, he told me about his life.  He was recovering from knee replacement a week before.  He had a camper behind his house and I asked did he camp and he said not anymore.  He then told me why.  Buster's wife of many years suddenly began to hurt in her back and upper chest about 8-10 months ago.  He took her to NEGMC and they found she had cancer.  She died 18 days later.  He said, "I just can't imagine camping without her!"  My heart connected with Buster and it broke for his pain.  We had more conversation and I learned in 15 minutes all about Buster a man on the mend.

Bill had taken me back with the fuel and I put it in the truck, it cranked right up and sure enough it was out of gas, go figure.  Bill assured me he would follow me home "as insurance" he told me, I asked for his contact information and we shock hands.  As I turned I saw Buster on the porch of that old house waving, I looked at Bill and said, "You know Bill, God orchestrated this whole event, Buster needed me to stop by his house today".  Bill looked at me really crazy, but I think he got it.

Before I left that front yard I ran up the yard to Buster's front door.  He was standing there watching the crazy guy who ran out of gas in front of his house.  I told Buster I had thought about him as we went for gas and prayed for him.  He said thank you and I asked if I might pray with him there on his porch, he responded with delight and we prayed together.  I said good bye, returned to the truck and off we went to our home.

Bill called several times along the way to check on us and I am thankful for his generosity.  He told me as we rode for gas, "I don't do this ever, my wife told me not to, but something caused me to turn around!"  I know what it was, it was God working out all the details for me to meet Bill and Buster to get gas.

Starting this Sunday September 11 I will begin a new series called "WHY".  Why does bad things happen and what role do we play in God's master plan.  I hope you make plans to be there every week.