We were caught in last weekend’s Nor’easter that roared up the seaboard. The storm didn’t take us by surprise, but the floodwaters did. We were supposed to stay in Wildwood Crest, NJ, through Sunday, but we could see the tides growing stronger and the water rising. We prayed before leaving the hotel. Bill and I had no idea how rough the trip home would be.
CLOSED BRIDGES
Three primary drawbridges connect the Wildwoods to the mainland of Cape May County. We pulled out of the hotel, knowing emergency services planned to close down the bridges at 2 PM. Leaving at 10:30 AM, we drove through flooded streets toward the closest bridge. Quickly, we discovered that all the side streets leading to that bridge were closed and underwater. Change of plans. We proceeded very slowly on the central street toward the bridge north of Wildwood. The water grew deeper and deeper.
ONLY ONE DRIVER
One more complication. At this point, I was the only driver. Before we knew we would be leaving that day, Bill took his prescription for his back pain. He is not permitted to drive with that med in his system. Hence, Bill was out of commission.
HIGH STANDING WATER ALL AROUND
At the wheel, all I could envision were those videos of cars unexpectedly floating away in a pool of high standing water. How high does it have to get? For several blocks we followed a vehicle with New York plates. We figured if anyone knew the way out, they would. We knew we were in trouble when even he turned around.
AN ANGEL AT WAWA
What to do? We prayed. In the pouring rain, we found a WaWa open and inundated by customers. In the coffee line, I kept asking, “How can we find a bridge that is still open?” God sent his angel. A dear man replied, “Go over to Pacific Avenue, follow it straight for miles, and it will take you to the Cape May bridge, where you can catch the Coastal Highway.”
COUNTERINTUITIVE DIRECTIONS
It seemed counterintuitive. He was telling me to travel south (further into the storm) to find a bridge that might not be open. Without any other options (my GPS was of no help), we made a right out of the parking lot and followed Pacific Ave. for the next several miles. I began to doubt the man’s directions as I saw many cars approaching us and very few heading the same direction we were.
a bridge in sight
Eventually we drove by the marshland where we saw debris from earlier waters covering the road, but the waters were receding. We didn’t have to drive through flooding as in Wildwood. Then there was the bridge!!!! We crossed and made it to the Coastal Highway and eventually home.
presence of god
God was there with us during our entire trip. He knew about the floodwaters in Wildwood. God sent an angel to stand at the WaWa coffee bar. Even when my GPS kept angrily telling me to turn around, God kept us on the right path. My husband kept praying and encouraging me when all I could envision was our car floating away. We had no idea how rough the trip home would be, but God knew and He cared.
god’s gift
As Paul reminds Timothy, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (II Timothy 1:7). God is the Giver of good gifts regardless of the tide!
Click to read more about the Spirit of Power and Endurance.
