week 43

Scripture Reading:

ACTS 23:12–35

Back Together Again

Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men; protect me from men of violence.

PSALM 140:1

SCOTT MILLER WAS FOREVER SECOND-GUESSING HIMSELF as a single father. His wife had left him and their daughter and son fifteen years ago, and now both were teenagers.

It was Friday night, which for years had been family night. But when Laura turned sixteen, her friends had something fun going on every night. Scott had laid down the law.

“You’re too young to be out more than once a week.”

Most of the time Laura agreed. But that night her two favorite girlfriends asked her to go shopping, even though a party was planned for the next night.

“Please, Dad? It’s just for a few hours.”

“You know the rule, Laura. Once a week.”

“Yeah, but this isn’t a night thing, it’s shopping.”

He could feel his determination beginning to crumble. Times like this he wondered why he’d never remarried—someone who could be a mother for Laura. For a moment he wondered about Becky Olsen, his first love. She wouldn’t have walked out on them. She’d be here. “Who’s driving?”

“Susie’s mother will pick me up and drop me off.”

“Okay,” he said. She’d be fine; this was Mill Creek, Washington, with one of the nation’s lowest crime rates.

“Thanks, Daddy. I promise I won’t be long.”

Becky Olsen was a sales manager for the largest pharmaceutical company in the nation. Although her territory was southern Oregon and California, she’d agreed to take meetings in Seattle on the weekend.

She was single, and work hid her loneliness. Six years earlier, her husband and sons had been killed in a car-train accident. It took two years for Becky to get back to work, and she did it with a determination to remain single. She’d loved once, and lost. That was enough. The problem was the dreaded loneliness. Not for another family. She wanted a friend.

Becky found herself occasionally wondering how her high school boyfriend, Scott Miller, was doing. They’d been young, but he had been one of her best friends.

Her thoughts cleared and she thought about the business at hand. She needed to pick up a pair of nylons. It was almost eight o’clock when she pulled into a mall parking lot just north of Seattle.

Becky’s attention was immediately taken by a man in dark clothing walking behind a teenage girl. The girl’s eyes were terror-stricken. And why was he walking so close behind her? Was he pushing her? They reached a beat-up sedan that looked out of place at the high-end mall.

God, what’s going on? Is the girl in trouble?

Follow them, daughter. Follow.

The answer was not an audible voice, but it resonated in Becky’s heart as if God had shouted the words with a bullhorn. When the car pulled away, she stayed reasonably close behind. Becky’s heart raced as they turned onto the main road. The girl must be in trouble. But if she called for help, the police would want a reason. When the man turned onto a less-traveled street, she knew if he led them into a deserted area, he’d see her following him. Without another thought, she dialed 911.

“Nine-one-one. What’s your emergency?”

“I’m following a man who I believe has kidnapped a teenage girl. She looked scared to death.”

Three minutes later, a police car passed Becky and pulled over the sedan. Becky stopped and watched the drama play out. While patting the man down, the officer pulled a gun from the man’s pocket. Within seconds the man was cuffed and placed in the back of the squad car.

Becky climbed out of her car, her knees trembling. She approached the car, where officers were talking to the girl, and explained that she had called in the incident.

The teenager was sobbing, shaking from fear. “I forgot my wallet in the car. So I went out to get it and I felt something against my waist.” She sobbed twice. “It was his gun. He told me to start walking or he’d shoot.”

Becky felt the color drain from her face.

The girl got out of the car and shook Becky’s hand. “Thank you so much.” She folded her arms and began to shiver. “My dad is on the way. Could you wait? He’ll want to thank you, too.”

Becky agreed. Five minutes passed and finally a Jeep pulled up. It was dark, but Becky watched as a tall man ran toward them. His eyes were locked on the girl.

“Laura… thank God!” He took her in his arms.

Becky stepped back, intent on saying good-bye and getting on her way. But the girl pulled from her father’s arms. “You have to meet Becky. She called for help.”

The man turned to Becky, and suddenly they both froze. Becky stared at his face and gasped quietly.

“Becky? How did you—”

“I’m here on business. I can’t believe this.”

Laura was watching. “You know each other?”

“Yes. In fact, we do.” Scott gave Becky a hug.

In a matter of minutes, Scott and Becky learned that each was single, and that they’d been wondering about each other for years. They drove to a diner to catch up.

“We were part of a miracle tonight,” Laura said as she sipped her drink. “God brought you two friends together, and he did it by having Becky save my life. Only God does that sort of stuff.”

Scott and Becky agreed Laura was right. And they still remind themselves often of that miracle, especially each June when they celebrate their wedding anniversary.

After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.

HOSEA 6:2