Got More Than I Bargained For

I am about to move, again. I currently live in Las Cruces, NM. Every day, I drive up Hwy 70 to White Sands Missile Range, where I work. I have been looking for a 24-26ft trailer. Because I am an idiot, I have decided to opt for the "move yourself option" the Army offers. They will pay me 95% of what they would pay professional moving company. The bonus is I get to break my own stuff and age my joints and muscles. Sounds great, right? So, I have been looking for a trailer. Well, a few months ago, I noticed one on Hwy 70. It is parked beside a 40ft Motor home behind someone's home. Almost every day, I would tell myself that I need to stop by and ask them if they would sell it. Today was that day. I leave in one month. So today, I pulled off the highway and drove to this house. It was easy to find. I live in a desert and nothing blocks the view. So finding it was easy. A man answered the door. He looked a little confused as I tried to explain myself. Then, his wife popped around the corner. She began to speak with me. At some point in the conversation, she quietly spoke and demonstratively mouthed, "He has Alzheimer's." I realized why it was at first awkward to communicate with him. As I drove down the highway, earlier, I had prayed that God would first allow me to buy this trailer. I then prayed that it wouldn't be too expensive. What I didn't pray was for me to have an encounter that would alter my day, and possibly my life. While I spoke with the lady at the door, she told me that their 40ft motorhome and a Harley Davidson were both for sale as well. She explained that she hadn't the time to do anything with either of them for over two years since his diagnosis. I told her that I knew someone who could fix almost anything and that I would return. I picked up Nick Newell and drove back over. I decided to buy the cargo trailer. But, I wanted to do more. As Nick labored on the Harley, she and I spoke. I asked her if she had family here. She doesn't. I asked if she had friends. I expected she had a few. Her answer was, "Not a one." My heart dropped into my stomach and tears filled my eyes cloaked by my sunglasses, I hope. I don't know what life would be like to have no one on whom to lean. God has blessed me with amazing friends. If I need help lifting something heavy in the garage, I can call countless people, even in NM. If I need a ride, I can call several folks; and, they come willingly. In that moment, I stood with a woman struggling against a dark enemy that has consumed here 66-year-old husband. Nick fixed the Harley, of course. We spent 4 hours there. Alerted by the sound of the running Harley, the man came out to see. He looked at his wife, as a child would, and asked if he could ride it. With trepidation she looked to us. She said, "Just drive to the end of the street and back." This childlike adult rode it like he'd never stopped. She repeated over and again how exciting it is to see this. Again, I fought back tears. Before we left, I asked her if I could have her and her husband over for dinner. She looked shocked and gladly said, "Yes!" Sitting 3 miles from where I am writing this sits a 64-year-old woman and a 66-year-old man. He is plagued with a terrible disease. I drove past this house almost every day for over a year. Today, I was compelled to stop for a very selfish reason. I wanted to buy a cargo trailer for a good deal. But, I got more than I bargained for. God stopped me in my self-centered path. He gave me whiplash. I didn't run today; and, I don't miss that. I didn't meet with my running club; I seldom miss that. Today,I met with a lady struggling to do it all on her own. Today, I got to see a child-like man glow when he rode his Harley again. Today, I am amazed at my humanity and brokenness. Today, I am amazed at God's greatness. Some would call what I experienced a series of coincidences. Call it whatever you like. I just know that, today, I got more than I bargained for.