As an avid photographer I always grieve over lost photo ops. Today I missed a grand one. As I inched my way forward in unexpected midday bumper-to-bumper traffic I crested a hill to see the cause of the delay. There was twisted metal strewn across the road, a wrecker, and several vehicles with flashing lights.

Trying not to be the rubber-necker whose behavior I so dislike, I tried to ease through the blocked intersection without looking. But, I looked. I saw a young female driver in the gentle embrace of a burly Police officer. Her sobs were visible. The comfort he was offering her was palatable.

Where was my camera? I had it with me this morning. Why didn’t I have it with me now? But I didn’t. So instead of lamenting my lapse in judgment for leaving the camera on my desk, I allowed myself to really see what was going on.
The car I assume belonged to the young girl was on a flat bed wrecker. The impact had been on the driver’s side. Had her car been equipped with airbags they would have deployed. I am not an insurance claims adjuster but I feel certain her car will be totaled. No wonder she was frightened and crying!

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Police officer hug a victim except on television. But he was being stalwart despite the near triple-digit heat and the horns being honked by angry driver delayed in the accident clean up.

And then I thought back to a prayer I had prayed earlier in the morning. A precious sister in Christ was hurting. My reaching out to touch was via telephone. In my prayer I asked God to allow her to feel God’s loving arms around her. What I saw between the Police officer and the accident victim was what I had prayed for my friend!

God’s loving arms around us. How often we need to feel God’s closeness! What comfort and strength there is from that assurance of God’s protection and love. Stop and feel God’s arms around you. Now, who can you hug in return?