A few weeks ago I was driving home and the transmission in my van went out. Wait a minute, I am getting a head of myself. Let me take you back to September 2009.
In September of 2009 I found myself unemployed and looking for work unsuccessfully as I had been since losing my job in February of that same year. I was contacted by my pastor at Southgate Community Church to see if I would be interested in going on a men’s wilderness adventure in Canada for a week. After discussing this with my wife (she literally pushed me out the door to go) I took off on the trip.
The group of men that myself and a fellow Southgater joined was from Fusion Church in Illinois. So we spent a week in the Canadian wilderness canoeing, portaging, camping, and bonding ( and for a select few of us, tipping our canoes in the lakes, some once, some twice). The week out in the wilderness with these men and of course God had a real impact on my life. We proudly defined ourselves as the band of brothers.
We kept in contact using Facebook.
One of the men, Heath, and I also met this past June (2010) in Illinois at a race called “The Warrior Dash”. Heath ran in a heat just before mine so we were not able to run the race together. We met up after my heat and talked for a little bit and then soon parted ways. Again, we continued to stay in contact through Facebook.
Now back to present day. My transmission appeared to have gone out on in my van. Here is my post and the responses I got on Facebook.
This was my next post concerning my van.
So, I get the report back that it is definitely my transmission. To top it off the catalytic converter is shot as well. This was my next Facebook post.
From here forward the conversation between Heath and I was on chat session on facebook. Heath and his family were going to be going to Florida Thanksgiving. Heath took a vehicle that he had that needed some work (brakes, oil leak) to his mechanic to see about getting it fixed. Heath had said that if he could get it fixed, I could have the van. Heath had asked if I would prefer the van or the pick-up, I told Heath that the van would be better suitable for me and the family but that whatever I had would be good.
At one point it looked as though the van would be too costly to repair and Heath offered to purchase the pick up truck instead. Again, I was grateful for any vehicle. On Thursday heath was set head south for the holiday. The plan was for that they would drive two vehicles and we would meet at a spot along the way. Heath contacted me on Facebook that day via the chat session;
“Looks like God wants you to have the van, my mechanic called and gave it the ok.”
My repsonse was , that is awesome, thank you so much for doing this for us.
So, Heath calls later that evening to say they are ready head out. We decide to meet in Hobart Indiana off of I-65. Hobart is about 65 miles from my house. we would travel the toll road to get there. I tell my wife to get ready to go. Silly me. I knew that she did not like to drive at night and that she was especially not comfortable doing so on the toll road.
So I call another friend David, on is cell phone, who lives locally. I ask if he is bust and he says that he is in the checkout lane at Menards. I explain my situation, and then asked if he would be so kind as to drive me to Hobart. Without hesitation he says, “I’ll be right over.”
So approximately 20 minutes later David and I are on our way to Hobart, 65 miles away, 1 hour and 15 minute drive.
We arrive at the set location in Hobart and Heath and his family arrive shortly after. We get out exchange hugs and greetings. Heath goes over some details on the van, signs over the title, and apologizes because he did not have time to clean it.
Clean it? wow, This man is giving me a van and apologizes because he did not have to to make it shiny and spiffy for me. I assure him that I am okay with it not being cleaned. I am grateful for what he and his family are doing for me and mine.
We say our goodbyes and Heath and his family continue on there way to meet family for the holiday. David and I head back to South Bend.
All the way back to South Bend, I am just overwhelmed by the generosity of my friends. By Heath and his family for giving me a van (a van that they actually paid money to repair so that it would be operable). By David, who at a moments notice and without hesitation, said yes, I can pick you up.
Because of these two special friends in my life, I now have a vehicle that I can drive. Thank You Heath and David for being the friends you are. Thank you for being an example of Christ’s love.
Here is the van, I was so graciously given. 
So, as Thanksgiving approaches, I sit here thankful for my friends, for their sacrifice, for their willingness to give, for their willingness to be open to hear from God and respond, thankful for a loving and provisional God.
What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving Season?
