I was 19 and my coworker friend, Penney, was 20. One day, we decided to go to the upcoming World’s Fair in New York. We scraped up enough money for expenses plus travel. Traveling by train was our only affordable mode of travel. Since I still lived with my parents, I had asked my parents if I could go. My dad didn’t comment; my mom said, “Sounds like fun!” What was she thinking! Two naïve and first time travelers going to New York!
Finally, our big day arrived! We boarded the train to Chicago where we had to transfer to another train. We carried our luggage and looked for the platform for the connecting train.
Just then a redcap approached. “Carry your bags, ma’am?” he said. “Well, thank you,” I said, handing him my luggage and Penney followed suit. When we got to our platform, we thanked him. He stood there with an expectant look on his face. So we thanked him again and boarded the train. “People in Chicago are so friendly,” I said. “Yeah, I hope they’re this friendly in New York.”
When we arrived in New York, our excitement was nearly impossible to contain! We took a taxi from the train station to our hotel. “Is this your first time in New York,” the taxi driver asked. “Yes, it is,” we answered, trying to look and act sophisticated.
We soon realized taxi drivers don’t use their brakes – they honk their horns. It was like being a bully and at the same time being bullied by annoying taxi horns! It seemed like we drove around for a long time. When we arrived at our destination, we were shocked at the price of cab fare! We discovered later that some taxi drivers drive tourists around at the tourists’ expense “to avoid traffic” if questioned by their passengers.
The World’s Fair was definitely the highlight of our trip, but I realized a most magnificent highlight years later. The theme that year was celebrating “Peace Through Understanding” – applauding man’s achievements on a shrinking globe. It was held on Queens and our hotel was in Manhattan, which meant another new venture – New York’s subway!
It was late the night we returned to Manhattan. Because we were unfamiliar where to get off the subway, we decided to get off in Times Square and walk to our hotel. We climbed the steps from the dark underground of the 42nd Street station and tried to get our bearings, when su
ddenly we were surrounded by several men sneering like wolves closing in on their prey.
They started to taunt us. We stood terrified and defenseless. They tightened the circle. I don’t want to die in New York. Who would ever find us? We stood face to face with the enemy. Panic gripped my soul as . More riff raff joined the circle. Penny and I clasp hands and prepared for the worst.
Just then two sailors broke through the circle with power and authority, although they never spoke a word. Strange – none of the wolves tried to stop them although the sailors were far outnumbered. One sailor took me by my elbow while the other one took Penney by the elbow and ushered us through the sneering, jeering men. Somehow Penney and I knew the sailors meant no harm but came to rescue us.
They walked us back to our hotel all the while gently chiding as to the dangers of young women out alone at night in New York. We listened – grateful to be safe back at the hotel. We turned to thank them, but they were gone without a trace.
“Do you think we were rescued by angels?” I asked, once inside. “I don’t have a clue,” Penney said, “I’m just glad they came to our rescue.”
What did I learn from this experience? Everyone should read the book, “How to Travel Savvy on Your First Trip 101.” If you cannot find the book, write your own from what you learned on your first trip. Or write a blog post.
Eleven years later, I became a believer in Christ Jesus. As I thought back to the NY trip, I realized that it was God who protected us from our own foolish venture. God is faithful and is ever watchful over His created beings. He is a very present help in time of trouble! And the two sailors? I believe they were angels sent to rescue us. And that realization far exceeds what the World’s Fair offered us – the celebration of man’s self-important accomplishments that pale in comparison to God and creator of the universe being mindful of me. And you. And more than that, He sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world.
I wonder how many times God intervenes in our lives to protect us and sends His powerful angels to rescue us from harm, and we don’t even know it. But the times I do recognize His protection, I am delighted to lift up prayers of thanksgiving to Mighty God.