Stranded

Today I needed to go to the city to pick up some material that Melodee needed for school. I decided to wait until school ended and then to surprise the kids and pick them up sparing them fa long, boring bus ride. We headed out with eager anticipation, anxious to not only get our shopping done, but to be able to visit with Naomi as well. Four of the kids had decided to come with me. We got to Taber and I stopped quick to pick up a snack for the kids before continuing on. We had no sooner got back on the road and all my gauges on the dash shut down. I pulled off the road and turned off the car hoping to reset whatever had gone wrong, only when I went to restart the car it wouldn't start. It just clicked. I tried about 3 times and then called my husband to let him know what had happened. Fortunately he was on his way home and was less than 30 minutes away. We were assured that help was on the way.

Now this was our state, but we had yet to call upon God for assistance. I asked Myles to voice a prayer letting the Lord know of our circumstances and our need for His assistance. Following the prayer I tried the starter once more and the car started up. We were on the road again. However almost immediately the dials died again and getting onto the highway was iffy but we got going. We continued in prayer asking for green lights all the way and managed to make it back through town without having to stop. Homeward we went. I had no idea how fast I was travelling but continued on at a speed that felt right. As we approached Purple Springs I remarked to the kids that something felt different. They confirmed what I was feeling and within a few short minutes the car powered down and no longer propelled us forward. I slipped it into neutral and we coasted as far as We possibly could before pulling completely off the road once we were almost to a stop. Once again I tried to start it, but I got nothing but a clicking sound. I certainly had a very dead battery. 

We called Chad and let him know where we were at and found out that he was only 10 minutes behind us. Once he arrived he hooked up the booster cables and began to charge the battery. He had talked to our mechanic and had been advised to charge it for 10 to 12 minutes. We did this and then tried the starter. However, we got nothing just a lot of clicking. Upon closer examination we discovered that the connection between the two vehicles was not complete. We had thought we were charging but we were not receiving that charge. We corrected the problem and continued to charge the car. This time the energy transfer was properly connected and after the allotted 10 minutes I was on my way home. I did not drive slowly, for I did not know how long my battery would last. However we made it safely home with a prayer of gratitude in our hearts for such deliverance.

This experience was a powerful reminder of the atonement. Like the booster cables, the Savior is always offering us His energy, His light and His love. It is the condition of our hearts that establishes the proper connection to this resource of power and goodness. Without both faith and good works manifest in our lives we cannot receive the charge of the ennobling and enabling power of the infinite atonement. Sometimes we passively go about our lives without spending time strengthening faith through daily worship and communication with the Lord. This is a condition much like the first 10 minute charge that we took. It was not sufficient to start the car. We had to re-examine and reestablish  the connection properly in order to receive that charge. When our lives become passive it is important to re-examine our priorities and make sure that we are spending time increasing our faith through scripture study and prayer as well as drawing closer to the Savior through selfless acts of service. As we do so we extend our hand to His outstretched arm and receive that divine power available to us through His Atonement.

I am so grateful for our safe deliverance to our home. I know that the Atonement of Christ, when enabled in our lives, is the means by which we can return home to our Father in Heaven when our mortal probation draws to a close. What joy fills my heart at this prospect.