Weeping/Laughing on the Road

Helder told me this story:

I worked downtown, a 45-minute drive. I lived 15 minutes West of the major highway that I would spend 30 minutes on, morning and evening. One morning—no different from any other boring drive to a job that was killing me—sadness overcame me—no, more like extreme grief over the loss of all that I loved. I began to sob uncontrollably, so I had to pull to the side of the road.

Inquiring, She says, “Pray. Intercede for them in the heavenlies.” I sat by the side of the road, praying in tongues and weeping inconsolably for ten minutes, and when the grief lifted, I was in the same good morning mood I started with. I went to work.

One week later, driving the same way, I got to where I had pulled over and laughed. Tears rolled down my cheeks like I had heard the punchline to the finest joke anyone had ever heard. My joyous heart overflowed with gratefulness. I pulled over again and sat beside the road, praying my joy and thankfulness loudly, again in the common language of humans, angels, and all creation. Again inquiring, She said, “Thank you for interceding. It was needed because of the vocation shared by all human-kind of tending, keeping, guarding, and protecting all the work of my hands so all may enjoy their created purpose.” I expressed my thankfulness to Her, for Her, and went to work.”