It has been an unusual week. Monday we went to the Mission Home to stay with Brigham and his cousin Tessa while Pres. and Sr. Schow went to their semi-annual Mission Leaders’ Seminar. We did more grocery shopping and prep for the Zone Conference meal tomorrow and had a mostly quiet time.
Tuesday we heard that son Hugh had gone to the hospital to be checked for a painful lump under his tongue, and after a scan, was admitted to be treated for Ludwig's Angina. It is an infection under the tongue which in former days had 50% mortality because of airway occlusion, but has better results now because of improved diagnosis and treatment. He went home after 48 hours.
Thursday we left as planned with the “kids” to attend the temple in Bern. We stayed in patron housing, they stayed in a hotel about 12 minutes away. Several other branch members were there as well, and we enjoyed the peace and calm of the temple.
Friday we took some time after the first session to go into Bern and see some sites. The beautiful Clock Tower was first. Then we climbed the cathedral tower (344 steps!) for the panoramic views of the mountains and town. Brigham wanted to see the bears in the Bear Park, but they weren’t eager to see him. We went to the Einstein Museum and learned about the brilliant but quirky man who published several groundbreaking papers while working as a patent clerk in Bern.
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| The Clock Tower |
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| The neogothic cathedral |
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| Hanging out with the NIL of Einstein |
Then we were hungry so we found a casual restaurant open near the temple. After our delicious meal it was time to take the kids to their hotel and then return for the last endowment session of the day. It was already dark. The car’s GPS suggested it was faster to cut across on smaller roads rather than taking the autoroute in a big loop. I thought we had lots of time so I said, “Let’s see.” However, as we got closer to the hotel and then farther away, it seemed like the GPS was absolutely wrong. It said our destination was about 2 miles away from the hotel and on the wrong side of the autoroute. I turned onto the smaller road, thinking we could turn around somewhere, then saw a bridge that crossed to the good side of the autoroute. After making the crossing the road became more of a gravel trail and then turned in the wrong direction. So, “Let’s turn around”.
The shoulders were wide and grassy with a small slope away from the gravel, but as we turned left to make a loop and come back toward the gravel, the front tires sunk a bit and I stopped. Then it wouldn’t go forward or back. Stuck! The front tires weren’t in deep but in the damp soft grass and mud underneath, the tires just spun. We got out and tried to push to get back to the road, several times. No luck. I thought about trying to go forward in the turn but was worried about getting in deeper.
At that point it looked bad. I thought we might have to forget the last temple session and maybe even miss a decent night’s sleep. Where would we find a tow truck after dark? How far was it to walk to the hotel? In desperation I proposed that we pray together. Just as I said that aloud, we saw a small white light far across the dark field, bobbing up and down and gradually coming closer from the opposite direction. As it came up the road we realized it was a runner, a young man, with a headlamp. He stopped and we tried to communicate. He didn’t speak French or English, was not from around there. We did manage to communicate our predicament and he took a look at the wheels. He said he was from Austria and was a mountain driver. His advice was to try to push forward. He would drive while we pushed. With nothing to lose, we did, and the car moved forward and then sped up and was back on the gravel in no time. He turned it around and got out, and then despite our effusive thanks he jogged off, saying only that he was an Austrian mountain driver.
We all got in and made our way back to the highway, and using the phone GPS we found a way to the hotel and then back to the temple in time for our session.
How is it that he was running in the dark in that remote location? When did he come from? Where was he going? To have an angel appear in that location, at that time, was truly a miracle for us. We were remote and in big trouble, and he saved us.
There is a lot of symbolism in that experience. In this life we are unable to overcome sin and death on our own. We can find ourselves in the dark, having made mistakes, far from where we need to be. But God has sent his Son to save us - the true light that shines in the dark. And He has saved us, and will save us when we turn to Him.
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