No Good Deed Goes Unpunished...

It was raining like crazy and I was hungry, so I was giving serious consideration to a Texas muffin from the vending machine. Bad idea. But thankfully I was saved from myself by a ringing phone. It went downhill from there.

Most of the people who work at our company are legally or totally blind, so transportation is a huge issue. I've forgotten to give non-drivers messages a couple of times in 29+ years and I can tell you I feel almost as rotten as they feel mad. Being transportation-challenged myself, I take such things seriously.

Back to the story...The husband of one of my employees said he was broken down and he wanted me to find his wife who was still on the property. He had tried her cell phone, but it kept going to voicemail. I said, "Sure. What do you want me to tell her when I find her?" He suggested she call her nephew to pick her up.

Off I go to deliver the message and wouldn't you know the trek takes me right by the vending machine?! But I'm on a mission; maybe then a muffin as a reward? Obviously the wife is not inside the building. Do you know what rain sounds like on a tin roof? Now imagine what a monsoon sounds like...and I'm going out in that?

I push the steel door open an inch and get a face full of water, so I step back and regroup. The glasses come off and go in one pocket. The watch comes off and goes in the other. I take a deep breath and step outside. With what I thought was a firm grasp on the door, I yelled toward the weather shelter. And then it happened. The monsoon wind yanked the door from my hand and slammed it shut...LOCKED.

I wish I could take take a moment to think, during which time the door would magically open. It ain't gonna happen. And this is not a pouring-straight-down rain storm. The wind is whipping the rain in all directions. I'm under an awning and already drenched to the bone. There's no help for it; I'll have to walk around to the front of the building.

I walked to the end of the sidewalk and yelled again. Thankfully she heard me and I relayed the message. Now I have to make my way around the building. Did I mention I'm blind? Okay, it probably took about a minute instead of the 45 minutes that it felt like. I didn't fall down, for which I can only thank Jesus.

You know how hard the air conditioner works to cool in this kind of heat and you still feel hot? It's a lot cooler when you're soaking wet. I was making little puddles with ever step I took, so I knew I couldn't sit down in my office. Paper towels had to suffice for the dripping hair. And I did wring a half cup of water out of my blouse. But nothing help the wet jeans. Now that's not a good feeling; wet jeans are heavy and clingy.

I'd like to stop and give a Shout-Out to the people who make Merrill shoes. While I was drenched from the top of my head to my ankles (not a dry thread on me, as they say) my feet were completely dry!!! Thank you, Merrill folks!!!

You know, for about 30 seconds after I refused to put my hand between the wind-driven steel door and the steel door frame I was very angry at myself. Then I stopped and considered that no real damage was done. I might rust, but I wouldn't melt. It was RAINING, which we so badly needed. The temperature had dropped about 20 degrees. And more importantly, the employee got a ride who picked her up within 15 minutes. Several good things did happen, and there was no punishment - only a little discomfort. Now what's that verse? Oh, yeah. And we know that God causes all things to work for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (NASB)