We had been traveling for four hours. Both boats were hitched tight and locked. It was suppertime, so we stopped at a Waffle House in Loxley, AL. Afterwards I stated that we needed to gas the vehicles and then go to Dairy Queen for ice cream.
We pulled up to the Chevron and had barely gotten out of my Blazer when someone rounded the corner yelling that Bebe needed help. We rushed to the other side of the building to discover that he indeed needed help--Bebe had missed the turn and drove right into a ditch!
Bebe had to steer, Uncle Jack was not able and I had a cast on my arm from surgery so that left Lutz and Lawley to push the truck out of the ditch. No way! Four strangers, who couldn't speak English, emerged from the store, saw our predicament and helped to heave the vehicle out. We couldn't communicate other than to share a laugh but the end result was success.
We began the trip with a "runaway boat" and just four hours later a truck was in the ditch! I was really beginning to worry about the chance for success during the next two days of fishing.
The ideal way to journey in life is to dodge the ditch, but when we end up in the ditch we must be willing to let others help us. In our rugged, individualistic society it is often taught that we should "pull ourselves up by our own boot straps," but reality shows us that more often than not, we can't.
When we hit a ditch in life we may find people ready to assist without our having to ask. At other times we must find the strength to ask for help from those nearby.
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness; it shows strength of character and faith in community--where people lend a hand, offer sound advice and offer up a prayer for a friend or stranger in need.
The next time you end up in the ditch, seek those around you for help. The next time you find someone in the ditch, help him or her. And the next time you avoid a ditch, share that experience for someone's benefit. So between now and then, try to live life to its fullest by dodging the ditch!
