Who ever first said "When it rains it pours" could probably relate to anyone that has had a lot of pretty serious things happen to the people in their lives in a short period of time. I've learned in my life that how you get through things that are unexpected, all depends on how you choose to receive and process the information. For example, if your thoughts focus on the negative, then your ability to see that what you are going through is changing minute by minute, and things will eventually return to "normal", will be limited, if not lost, by internalizing the state of your being. But by the same token, if you are in denial about the misfortune you may experience, that can be just as dangerous.
When I was working as a field inspector for the oil and gas regulatory agency in Texas, while attempting to access a remote drilling location, I found myself stuck in a dry creek bed. It wasn't unusual to become stuck in remote locations due to the nature and locations of the inspections I had to complete for compliance of environmental regulations. Because of that fact, I always carried two "rig timbers" or pieces of three inch thick by one foot wide, by six foot long boards, plywood, and a heavy duty jack in the back of my truck, so I could build a road out of wherever I found myself in a bind. It wasn't something that I went looking for, but it did happen on occasion.
This was one of those occasions. We had a staff meeting that morning, so everyone was in the office in Lubbock for the first half of the day. Knowing that I was going to be in the office for most of the day, I didn't wear my normal oilfield apparel but kakis and some boat shoes.
I ran out to a location outside of Post Texas to get a couple of my long list of re-inspections knocked out, since I only had a half day of field work that I could accomplish. I had cited the production company for a violation concerning an open drilling pit, and wanted to make sure that the proper remedial actions had taken place, so I could either submit to the legal enforcement group, or close the violation.
In that area of West Texas, the average rainfall is around 20 inches a year, the local joke was: "yeah and you should be here on the day we get it"
When I got to the abandoned drilling location, I had to decide whether to try to bounce across the dry creek bed in the truck, or walk another mile to the location. I usually chose to walk, but this day due to my choice of clothes, I decided to drive. I made it half way across the creek bed before I realized that the "dry" sandy creek bed wasn't all that dry or sandy, and I wasn't going to make it across.
Resigned to the fact that I was stuck, I put on my coveralls, and begin to build a road out of the creek bed. I would dig, put the boards down, jack the truck up, slide the boards under the tires, and drive 6 feet, and repeat. I made it almost to the place where I had started at the edge of the creek, and it began to rain... hard.. accompanied by all of the wonders of a spring thunderstorm in West Texas.
I realized that it would be dangerous to continue with my road construction, with the water, and mud covering everything including me, so I decided, being out in the middle of no where, not even a dirt road for 2 miles, I might as well rinse off some of the mud from my clothes. I hopped in the back of the truck and started taking a nature shower, and thought.. "ehhhh It can't get much worse" As soon as I thought that, lightening struck so close to where I was, that I could smell the ozone. I then decided I was clean enough, and got back in the truck.
The rain was really coming down hard, and I once again thought, "ah...it can't get much worse" I then looked up the creek and saw a wall of water coming towards me and my stuck pickup. It was only a few inches high, so I figured that was about as bad as it would get, and thought I'd stick it out, and it would clear up, I could try to reach someone on the radio to come pull me out, and get home before dark.
The flood water kept getting deeper and faster, then I noticed it had covered the front bumper of my truck, and decided it was time to turn off the engine, and call for help. The 1960's era two way radio system we had wasn't what you might consider world class, but I was able to get in touch with one of the other guys in the field, even though I couldn't get through to headquarters. I told him of my situation, and that I was concerned that I may lose the truck, but I "didn't think things could get much worse" That was when I noticed muddy red water rising in the floorboard of the pickup, and finally got the message that yes.. things can get worse, and sometimes they will get a lot worse.
The water began to rise faster, and I got one last message out on the radio that I was going to "abandon ship". I stepped out of the pickup expecting the creek bed to still be where it was, the turbid water apparently had dug a little hole where there was once solid ground. I went under water for a brief second. I believe that was the point in time where my normal positive outlook escaped me, and the reality that I could actually die here and now, hit home. I found the truck with a waving hand and pulled myself into the safety of the bed.
For the first time, I took inventory of my situation, said an earnest prayer, which at the time wasn't all that common for me, and my crisis mode became active. I had jumped out of the second story of a burning house before, so I had confidence that I would survive. The truck began to move more than the almost undetectable rocking from the fully flooded creek bed, and I knew the force of the water was about to claim the truck. I knew I didn't really have any other option than to jump in the water, and hope for the best.
I made it out of that mess, (obviously) and carry the lessons of that day with me, now and always.
No matter how bad things seem, they can get worse. Everything is temporary. That day just happened to be a record setting rain of over four inches in less than 30 minutes. It's another example of God literally saving my life, while at the same time giving me an experience of knowing that for me losing hope is not an option. Yes things can get worse, but the dynamics of God's creation dictate, they will eventually get back to some kind of balance, even if your reality is forever changed, there is balance, if you focus on keeping your hope alive, and ask for help.
This scripture has a special place in my life..and reminds me that God is forever faithful.
Isaiah 43 1-3
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;"
