Life certainly is an adventure. Steve Jobs is known for saying “stay hungry, stay foolish”. Well, that’s my story last night. I was in a Wawa writing on an envelope while my car sat at pump 10. In fact it had been at the pump for half an hour.

If there was any way I was expecting to spend my evening, I must admit this was nowhere on the radar. I smelled something in my car and decided that I checking the oil was a wise decision. I started pumping gas, and decided my cell phone needed a boost. Leaving it plugged in with the keys in the ignition, I checked the oil, while unbeknownst to me, the door shut while locked. After filling up, I went to get my wallet inside the car, and panicked a little bit, because I was locked out!

Entering into the store I humbly waited in line to tell the clerk that I had locked my keys in the car, he pointed me to the manger and the adventure began. I was welcomed into the manager’s office where we called AAA, and waited on hold for a representative. While the manager was on hold, i went outside to triple check on my mistake, it was indeed locked. The guy at the pump next to me asked if he could try his keys in my car, I loved the idea, but unfortunately it didn’t work. I walked back into the store to find Erika, a student in our youth group. Sheepishly, I explained my situation and we laughed it off, but it didn’t solve the problem (except for my pride!). After an eternity (15 minutes), they picked up the phone, i explained the situation and they said within 90 minutes someone would be able to let me into the car. Asking “Lord, what are you trying to teach me here?”

Ninety minutes is a long time, so i decided I was going to take matters into my own hands. I went up to several random trucks asking if they had any tools. 3 trucks all empty handed. Then in a moment of brilliance, I realized there was an auto parts store across the street. I went in to see if they had any tools, and they let me borrow a slim jim. I’ll let you know now, I’m not built to be a car thief, because without guy next to me, i wouldn’t have even known where to put it. After fiddling around, with no luck, a tow truck arrived, and he got the car open quickly because he had the right tool.

so the moral of the story? when we are in need is when we are the most bold (even if our need is from a stupid decision we make). it’s not every day that I will go up to a random truck, start a conversation with the hope that i could be rescued. when we admit we need rescue, then it’s a lot easier to ask for help. when is the last time you asked a friend, let alone a stranger to rescue you?