Crash at Devils Bend
The Stage
was late, but the driver was urging his team along to try and retrieve the lost
time. Inside were three people… a younger man and two older men.
The midday sun shone brightly as the dashing horses raced along the dusty highway. The men were getting hot and hungry.
Through mountains and plains the coach raced, and then it came to a narrow gorge where the road became steep and twisted. As the coach began to sway about, the young man looked at the other passengers with fear in his eyes.
“How bad is this road going to get?” he asked.
“Ah!” replied the older man, “The Devils Bend is the worse.... after that it’s okay.”
Time went on... minutes became hours. The people became tired and worn. The road became worse… and then at the worse place of all disaster struck.
Without any warning, one of the wheels came off and the coach tumbled over onto its side.
However, because it was on the edge of a cliff the coach went crashing over the side and down into the narrow gorge below. The men were sent flying.
After several moments of ghastly noises, everything became still… and silence returned to the gorge.
The young man was trapped under the coach gasping for air. The other men were knocked unconscious.
No-one knows how long they lay there, but then a miracle happened...
Up on the road two people were walking along the road. They came along after the wagon had gone over the side
One was an old man... and as he approached the site he noticed marks on the road and the broken wagon wheel.
He muttered to himself, "Something is wrong!"
His companion said, "What do you think it is father? What has happened?"
Father replied, “I don't know, but it certainly needs to be checked out.”
So down the two of them scrambled. They reached the coach and the man’s companion noticed the young man trapped under the coach.
Suddenly the young man opened his eyes to find a pretty little maid lovingly washing his face. He was thunderstruck that someone cared enough to help him in his plight. But she did it with complete affection and love.
The young man, whom we shall call Joe, stared at his beautiful rescuer for some moments before whispering in a hoarse voice, “Miss, why did you help me?
Tears fell from the girls eyes as she murmured, “You were the only one alive! My father tried to save them, but they were already dead.”
“But, but,” stuttered Joe. “Why did I deserve to still be alive?”
“Mister, we do not understand the ways of God, but we do know that in Him everything works for good for those who love Him and are called according to His plan.” The girl dipped her handkerchief into the cup of water again before continuing. “Father and I were walking along the road when we happened by Gods providence to pass this place soon after the accident. Our Lord sent us to save your life. I do not know why, but I am pleased to be a servant of His.”
Joe closed his eyes as he thought about what she had said. Why had God sent her along that road at this time? Why? Why oh why?
The girl’s father spoke behind them. “Son, I am going to lever the coach off your legs now. Charity, can you push this block of timber under the coach when I lever it up? I will tell you when to do it.”
“Yes Father, I shall do as you say.” And Charity moved nearer to his feet with the block and stood ready.
As the young man lay helpless the girl looked compassionately at him. He was so strong and brown. He appeared to be very capable, but at this very moment he was completely powerless to give anything more than a grimace of pain.
But it wasn’t his blue eyes that caught her attention, and it wasn’t his sturdy fingers either. It was the cheery expression and the atmosphere of Godly endurance and peace that had captured her heart. Though he was near the point of death he still trusted his Maker. Though racked with pain he refused to curse his God. Silently suffering and waiting on God for a miracle he had not given up hope.
As she stared thoughtfully at Joe, her father suddenly bought her thoughts back to the job at hand as he said, “Right, now… push that block under the
coach.”
Charity pushed it under and her father lowered the coach onto it. Then he reached down and carefully dragged Joe out from underneath.
After examining the young fellow’s legs he looked up at his daughter with a smile. “He is alright… just a sprain to one leg and plenty of bruising, but nothing is broken.”
As they both stood with heads bowed they gave thanks to God for allowing them the chance to be good Samaritans. Joe opened one eye and looked at the girl’s father and said, “Sir, could we have a talk alone please?”
“Yes Son, of course….”
As Charity moved out of earshot, Joe carefully sat up giving a wince of pain as he did so.
“You see Sir, it’s like this Sir. I want to say something Sir…..” His hesitation was telling. And the older man sensed what Joe was about to say because he laid a consoling hand on the lads shoulder and whispered, “Say it boy… I also was a lad once and I shan’t bite!”
Joe blushed red as he murmured, “Sir, when I was trapped beneath the stage coach I thought my life was at an end. I had resigned myself to my fate and was waiting for God to bring things to a close for me… but then I was awoken from my fitful slumbers to find an Angel washing my face. Please Sir, I have travelled the earth to look for my Angel. I have seen hundreds and talked to dozens, but this particular Angel was very different… because of her compassionate heart. Her compassion is of the variety that understands a man’s heart and wants him to be a real man to her.
Sir, that Angel is your daughter, and I humbly ask your permission to pursue her. I know you have put many hours of tears, heartache, love and laughter into her life. You have made her the woman she is… and if you will allow it, it would be my greatest honour to continue the work you have been doing. I will encourage your daughter to be the woman you have dreamed she would someday be.
Sir… do I have your permission please? If not, I respectfully understand and will honourably stand aside.”
The girl’s father stood silent for a long moment. He stared at the boy, looking him up and down. Sending a prayer heavenwards he reached out to clasp Joe’s hand.
“My boy,”he smiled, “God is giving me a wonderful son-in-law! You have my blessing….”
Turning to look over his shoulder he called out, “Charity, come here… we have something to tell you.”
As the girl approached she saw Joe, now standing leaning against the overturned stage coach. He was watching her approach with eager eyes. She was a little puzzled by his expression but said nothing.
Her father stepped towards her and took her hand in his. “Dearest daughter, from the time you were born I cared for you. I loved you and cherished you. I looked after you when you were sick. I fought your battles when others hurt you in anger. I taught you right from wrong, and most of all I taught you to fear God and treat people with love and respect.
“Today I am offering you someone who will do all this and more; someone who will take my place and care for you in the way I have done all these years. You must think carefully about it as the choice is yours… but this man would love to serve you… if you will allow him to.”
Charity looked from her father to Joe with wonder in her face. “Father,” she whispered in awe. “Do you mean it? Do you really mean it?”
“Yes daughter, I do.”
Reaching out one hand to her father and the other to Joe she pulled them to her. With tears in her eyes she gave thanks to her Heavenly Father as the three of them hugged tightly.
Joes eyes were bright as he patted Charity on the head. Brushing the curls away from her eyes he stared deep into them and said, “Thank God for the crash. If I had not crashed I would have never have met you. God knows how to make His children meet. All the pain I have suffered is nothing compared to the pleasure of meeting you… you, the rose of my life; the sweetest lily under Gods sun!”
The girl’s father stepped away… he realised he was not wanted at this time, so he went to make camp for the night and get a meal cooking for three. As he quietly worked he suddenly heard voices lifted in song, “What a Friend we have in Jesus.”
Smiling a secret smile to himself he called, “Love will have to wait… these sausages are cooked… if you leave it any longer they will be burnt!
8th December 2011
By: Adam R. B. Reeve
The midday sun shone brightly as the dashing horses raced along the dusty highway. The men were getting hot and hungry.
Through mountains and plains the coach raced, and then it came to a narrow gorge where the road became steep and twisted. As the coach began to sway about, the young man looked at the other passengers with fear in his eyes.
“How bad is this road going to get?” he asked.
“Ah!” replied the older man, “The Devils Bend is the worse.... after that it’s okay.”
Time went on... minutes became hours. The people became tired and worn. The road became worse… and then at the worse place of all disaster struck.
Without any warning, one of the wheels came off and the coach tumbled over onto its side.
However, because it was on the edge of a cliff the coach went crashing over the side and down into the narrow gorge below. The men were sent flying.
After several moments of ghastly noises, everything became still… and silence returned to the gorge.
The young man was trapped under the coach gasping for air. The other men were knocked unconscious.
No-one knows how long they lay there, but then a miracle happened...
Up on the road two people were walking along the road. They came along after the wagon had gone over the side
One was an old man... and as he approached the site he noticed marks on the road and the broken wagon wheel.
He muttered to himself, "Something is wrong!"
His companion said, "What do you think it is father? What has happened?"
Father replied, “I don't know, but it certainly needs to be checked out.”
So down the two of them scrambled. They reached the coach and the man’s companion noticed the young man trapped under the coach.
Suddenly the young man opened his eyes to find a pretty little maid lovingly washing his face. He was thunderstruck that someone cared enough to help him in his plight. But she did it with complete affection and love.
The young man, whom we shall call Joe, stared at his beautiful rescuer for some moments before whispering in a hoarse voice, “Miss, why did you help me?
Tears fell from the girls eyes as she murmured, “You were the only one alive! My father tried to save them, but they were already dead.”
“But, but,” stuttered Joe. “Why did I deserve to still be alive?”
“Mister, we do not understand the ways of God, but we do know that in Him everything works for good for those who love Him and are called according to His plan.” The girl dipped her handkerchief into the cup of water again before continuing. “Father and I were walking along the road when we happened by Gods providence to pass this place soon after the accident. Our Lord sent us to save your life. I do not know why, but I am pleased to be a servant of His.”
Joe closed his eyes as he thought about what she had said. Why had God sent her along that road at this time? Why? Why oh why?
The girl’s father spoke behind them. “Son, I am going to lever the coach off your legs now. Charity, can you push this block of timber under the coach when I lever it up? I will tell you when to do it.”
“Yes Father, I shall do as you say.” And Charity moved nearer to his feet with the block and stood ready.
As the young man lay helpless the girl looked compassionately at him. He was so strong and brown. He appeared to be very capable, but at this very moment he was completely powerless to give anything more than a grimace of pain.
But it wasn’t his blue eyes that caught her attention, and it wasn’t his sturdy fingers either. It was the cheery expression and the atmosphere of Godly endurance and peace that had captured her heart. Though he was near the point of death he still trusted his Maker. Though racked with pain he refused to curse his God. Silently suffering and waiting on God for a miracle he had not given up hope.
As she stared thoughtfully at Joe, her father suddenly bought her thoughts back to the job at hand as he said, “Right, now… push that block under the
coach.”
Charity pushed it under and her father lowered the coach onto it. Then he reached down and carefully dragged Joe out from underneath.
After examining the young fellow’s legs he looked up at his daughter with a smile. “He is alright… just a sprain to one leg and plenty of bruising, but nothing is broken.”
As they both stood with heads bowed they gave thanks to God for allowing them the chance to be good Samaritans. Joe opened one eye and looked at the girl’s father and said, “Sir, could we have a talk alone please?”
“Yes Son, of course….”
As Charity moved out of earshot, Joe carefully sat up giving a wince of pain as he did so.
“You see Sir, it’s like this Sir. I want to say something Sir…..” His hesitation was telling. And the older man sensed what Joe was about to say because he laid a consoling hand on the lads shoulder and whispered, “Say it boy… I also was a lad once and I shan’t bite!”
Joe blushed red as he murmured, “Sir, when I was trapped beneath the stage coach I thought my life was at an end. I had resigned myself to my fate and was waiting for God to bring things to a close for me… but then I was awoken from my fitful slumbers to find an Angel washing my face. Please Sir, I have travelled the earth to look for my Angel. I have seen hundreds and talked to dozens, but this particular Angel was very different… because of her compassionate heart. Her compassion is of the variety that understands a man’s heart and wants him to be a real man to her.
Sir, that Angel is your daughter, and I humbly ask your permission to pursue her. I know you have put many hours of tears, heartache, love and laughter into her life. You have made her the woman she is… and if you will allow it, it would be my greatest honour to continue the work you have been doing. I will encourage your daughter to be the woman you have dreamed she would someday be.
Sir… do I have your permission please? If not, I respectfully understand and will honourably stand aside.”
The girl’s father stood silent for a long moment. He stared at the boy, looking him up and down. Sending a prayer heavenwards he reached out to clasp Joe’s hand.
“My boy,”he smiled, “God is giving me a wonderful son-in-law! You have my blessing….”
Turning to look over his shoulder he called out, “Charity, come here… we have something to tell you.”
As the girl approached she saw Joe, now standing leaning against the overturned stage coach. He was watching her approach with eager eyes. She was a little puzzled by his expression but said nothing.
Her father stepped towards her and took her hand in his. “Dearest daughter, from the time you were born I cared for you. I loved you and cherished you. I looked after you when you were sick. I fought your battles when others hurt you in anger. I taught you right from wrong, and most of all I taught you to fear God and treat people with love and respect.
“Today I am offering you someone who will do all this and more; someone who will take my place and care for you in the way I have done all these years. You must think carefully about it as the choice is yours… but this man would love to serve you… if you will allow him to.”
Charity looked from her father to Joe with wonder in her face. “Father,” she whispered in awe. “Do you mean it? Do you really mean it?”
“Yes daughter, I do.”
Reaching out one hand to her father and the other to Joe she pulled them to her. With tears in her eyes she gave thanks to her Heavenly Father as the three of them hugged tightly.
Joes eyes were bright as he patted Charity on the head. Brushing the curls away from her eyes he stared deep into them and said, “Thank God for the crash. If I had not crashed I would have never have met you. God knows how to make His children meet. All the pain I have suffered is nothing compared to the pleasure of meeting you… you, the rose of my life; the sweetest lily under Gods sun!”
The girl’s father stepped away… he realised he was not wanted at this time, so he went to make camp for the night and get a meal cooking for three. As he quietly worked he suddenly heard voices lifted in song, “What a Friend we have in Jesus.”
Smiling a secret smile to himself he called, “Love will have to wait… these sausages are cooked… if you leave it any longer they will be burnt!
8th December 2011
By: Adam R. B. Reeve