From the Chaplaincy

Holidays! Brimming with excitement the family squeezed shoulder to shoulder into a 1960s Zephyr. It groaned under the weight of luggage on the roof carrier and toddler paraphernalia in the boot. 

The eastern horizon was tinged pink with the rising sun as the mum and dad, granny, and four children set off. 

Two hours from home and six hours from their seaside destination, the family hit a ‘hiccup’. Negotiating a hairpin bend in a mountainous region, an oncoming vehicle overshot the solid white line. In an attempt to avoid a collision the dad wrenched his steering wheel left, onto the shoulder of the road.

There was an awful rasping of metal against rock as the Zephyr ground to a halt. The family sat rigid, eyes wide, and hearts beating. The errant driver had just missed clipping them and was already out of sight. Their relief was palpable, but disappointment followed quick on its heels. The front left wheel was tightly wedged by the crumpled fender. The dad could neither reverse nor go forward. 

Wind the clock back three hours. The mum had started the day with some quiet time – ‘mindfulness’, some would call it. A verse from Psalm 121:8 had been her focus: “The Lord guards you as you come and go, now and forever.” and “Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need.” from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 494:10–1.

Now, more than ever, she needed to silence the mental clamour and re-focus. She quietly affirmed the ever-presence of Divine Love and, undeterred by crumpled fenders and wobbly emotions, she gave thanks for her family’s safety. 

Almost immediately a motorist passed by. He slowed down, seemed to hesitate, deliberate, then decided to reverse and pull over. After a quick discussion with the dad, and the use of a crowbar, the fender was straightened and the wheel was freed and changed. Amidst a chorus of thanks and delighted smiles the family resumed their journey.

The Chaplaincy Team warmly wishes all our HT families a wonderful winter holiday. Whether you’re travelling abroad, journeying interstate, or just enjoying the occasional day trip, take with you the reassurance that “The Lord guards you as you come and go, now and forever.” and “Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need.”

The Chaplaincy Team