Last night I had a little adventure I’d like to share with you. It’s not exactly the most “spiritual” of stories, but I think you might enjoy reading about it.
A local musician was giving a concert at a Starbucks in the Augusta area. Since I was in town and had a few hours to spare, I decided to go. After all, I appreciate it when people make the effort to come out to one of my concerts, so I figured he would probably appreciate having another listener in the audience.
I was thoroughly enjoying my ten¬-to-fifteen minute drive in the darkness with my neat purple and red interior lights shining brightly in my face and good music blaring through the tape adapter connected to my iPod Nano (I really need to get out more). I think an old “John Elefante” song was playing as I made the first turn toward Starbucks and began driving through the shopping center’s parking lot. That’s when I noticed the big (GIANT) red suv trailing behind my car. I thought to myself “Hmmm… I wonder if they’re following me?”
My mother taught me to always be aware of my surroundings (her father was a police officer). It was because of this that I realized I should probably not drive straight to my destination (Starbucks) and get out of my car… what if this car (GIANT RED SUV) was really following me? Whoever was inside would know where I was and what I was doing and might wait for me to leave and then follow me home!
Smart little lady that I am, I chose, instead, to drive in front of Shoe Carnival and pretend like I was parking. I turned quickly into a little spot and watched in my rear view mirror to see how the Giant Red Suv driver would respond.
Stalkers know that they shouldn’t make their stalking obvious, so instead of pulling into a spot close by, the driver drove a little farther (it’s a big parking lot) and then turned and parked facing my car… its lights still on… engine still running… I turned around to try catch a glimpse of whoever it was. To my horror I saw a Big Burly Man in the driver’s seat! A man who was not getting out of his car but who was apparently watching and waiting for ME!!!
I dialed my mother’s cell phone and said, “Mom, I think someone is following me.” I stayed on the phone, pulled out of the spot, and rounded a corner in order to see if Mr. Big Burly Man would follow…. He did. My heart was pounding; I was shaking and actually starting to cry. What could this person possibly want??? He looked like a drug pusher or something. “Mom, what should I do?” I said, panicking. She said, “We’ll start driving over there, you call 911.” Obediently, I hung up, dialed 911, and said to the dispatcher, “Please help, someone is following me” (or something like that). She went through the whole, “Where are you…” thing and I told her but kept driving… the suv kept following. I rounded another corner and pulled into the Starbucks parking lot where the young man I was supposed to be watching perform was standing on the patio playing for a quiet group of onlookers. I started to park but the dispatcher told me to keep driving. So I started to drive around the parking lot again. That’s when I saw two police cars circling the lot, apparently looking for me. I told the dispatcher I saw them, started around Starbucks again and came face to face with one of the cars (stopping directly in front of the singer/guitarist person on the patio, by the way). Relieved, I hung up with the dispatcher and said to the officer as he approached, “It’s THAT car, sir! That’s him! Go get him!” (Or something to that effect.) “Ma’am,” he said. “That’s an undercover cop.”
No way. I just called the cops on an undercover cop. I am shaking in terror because an undercover cop was following me around a giant parking lot. This could not be happening to me.
He reached gingerly into the car and pulled out a bottle. I was so confused. “It’s Steaz (Sparkling Green Tea)” I said. “Diet Steaz!” He nodded and said, “It’s ok, ma’am. He saw the bottle and thought you were drunk driving.”
(Stop laughing. It’s NOT funny!)
Still shaking, I said to him, “I’m sorry! I guess I should have poured it into a cup.” He smiled and said, “No, it’s ok.” The other officer (apparently they had me surrounded) approached and officer #1 lifted the bottle, grinned and said, “It’s green tea.” Smiling, the other officer retreated to his car. Their job was over.
The first officer explained that they had received a call about a drunk driver in a silver Jetta before they received the call about a silver Jetta being followed. The Big Burly Man in the Giant Red Suv was following me around the parking lot, trying to let the other officers know where I was… but I kept moving so they were getting frustrated. I was moving to get away from the Big Burly Man (and the dispatcher had advised me to keep moving), so it was a pretty comical situation.
Anyway, the officer knew I was really shaken up so he kept asking if I was alright. I said yes, of course, even though I was still shaking a little and felt sick to my stomach.
My parents pulled in and that’s when I realized that the people on the porch had witnessed the whole thing… only they didn’t realize what was going on. Some noticed the Big Red Suv following me and were concerned. Others didn’t notice the chase but heard the bleeping of police sirens (yes, sirens) and looked over to see my car surrounded (yes, directly in front of the outdoor concert) by two police cars and thought, “Whoever that is, she’s in trouble.” The singer/guitar player had recognized my car and thought (while playing and singing), “That looks like Stephanie. I hope that’s not Stephanie!”
Fortunately, I was able to explain the situation to most of the people around (who asked). Yes, they were HIGHLY amused as some of you probably are who are reading this now.
That said, I’ve thought of a few spiritual applications for this story…
1 Peter 5:8 says, Be of sober {note the unintentional pun} spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
- We need to be aware of our surroundings, both in the natural and spiritual realms. There are so many problems in the world today . . . people who need our help, issues that need our attention. Yet we sit in our nice cars, listening to our iPods, drinking our Starbucks, ignoring the fact that the world as we know it is in danger of being destroyed (one look at the news confirms this). We need to be aware of what’s going on and take steps to ensure our welfare and the welfare of others. It’s not being paranoid to recognize possible danger; it’s being smart.
- No matter how frightening our circumstance, we do not need to fear. We have a loving Father keeping a watchful eye on us. He will be with us through everything we face in life.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
(Isaiah 43:2-3)
Of course, the #1 lesson learned is: Don’t drink Steaz Sparkling Green Tea and drive!!! *GRIN*
Hope you enjoyed the adventure.
Keep the faith!
P.S…Speaking of police officers…. Have you ordered a CD yet? If not, please consider doing so in order to keep me out of jail. *wink* You can visit the website (www.StephanieStaples.com) and order a copy (or two, three, four… ten).” I appreciate the support!
