--MYSTERIOUS WAYS~~
--[ More Than Coincidence~ ]

--LOOK at the red strap.

~~The warning was clear, almost as if it had been spoken aloud. But what did it mean? I was cruising along the interstate in my little Kia Soul. I scanned ahead. In the middle lane was a shiny gray pickup truck. In the truck bed was a sofa, lashed down with a bright red strap, the end flapping lazily in the breeze.

My 19-year-old daughter and I had spent the afternoon at a home and garden show. My sister was the event manager. Though she hadn't had much time to chat, it had been great to see her. She'd looked so professional in her sleek black outfit and gold hoop earrings--the ones she saved for special occasions. My daughter and I had a great time browsing for a few hours before saying our goodbyes to my sister.

We'd been on the interstate for about 15 minutes when the words popped into my head: Look at the red strap.
Nothing about the strap--or the truck--seemed dangerous. The person behind the wheel was driving responsibly. The sofa, wrapped tightly in plastic, looked secure.
Still, that warning....

The pickup pulled into my lane, a few car lengths ahead. Another car had pulled into the middle lane beside me, blocking me to the left. I didn't think; I merely reacted. I eased my car to the right, onto the shoulder.

"Mom?" my daughter said. "What are you---"

Ka-THUNK ! the sofa slid from the truck bed, tumbling onto the highway. Into the right lane. At the speed we'd been going, there's no way I would have been able to brake in time. We would've crashed right into it.

"Mom, how did you know?" my daughter asked. I wasn't sure myself.
As soon as I got safely home, I called my sister, "You'll never guess what happened," I said. I told her the story.

My sister was silent. "Kathy," she finally said, "I prayed for you."
"What?"
"About 15 minutes after you left, I realized I'd lost one of my earrings," she said. "My friend was helping me look for it. I suggested we say a little prayer to find it. But then she got the strangest look on her face. My friend said no, we shouldn't pray about my earring. One of my family members was in danger, and we had to pray for them instead." She paused.

"Kathy, we were praying for you." ~~
--GUIDEPOSTS / KT~~
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