Most every Memorial Day weekend I travel up the east coast to visit with family and friends. I look forward to the trip which I have shared with my wife and each of our children. The trip culminates with placing flowers out in memory of my father, grandparents, aunts and uncles.
Early portions of the trip include a stop in Washington, DC to visit the 12th St Warf. The fresh seafood is amazing. There are shrimp of all sizes and more crab than you could possibly count. Equally enjoyable is stopping at the family home my grandfather built in Camden, NJ. One of my sister’s favorite tales is how I pushed her down the basement steps of this 1930’s home we once lived in as toddlers.
After leaving south Jersey it is off to the east coast and my hometown of Neptune. The feature of this stop is going down to the Boardwalk of Asbury Park. Here I have shared with my children stories of teenage night time swims in the ocean. Dangerous, yes? Fun, absolutely!
The trip wouldn’t be complete with out a run into New York. Growing up only 60 minutes from the city was amazing. In no time you could be emerging from the Lincoln Tunnel headed to Times Square or further north to Harlem. Just as exciting is a run to lower Manhattan and Battery Park.
This year my youngest daughter and I did venture to Battery Park. Once there we went in search of a Hot Dog cart. Few things are as special a treat as a dog with grilled onions, a little kraut and mustard as a Hebrew hot dog from a cart vendor.
After washing down our dogs with some water my daughter and I return to my car to discover a puddle of fluid leaking from the hydraulic shocks of my BMW wagon. Broke down in Battery Park on a Sunday evening with your 16 yr old daughter? No fun.
I had the presence of mind to call a good friend Parwez Ali who lives in Atlanta having moved from Staten Island, NY. I met Parwez seven years ago when I wrote the mortgage for his new GA home. Oddly, we hit it off and have been good friends ever since.
I told Parwez where I was and the circumstances of my daughter and me. In less than ten minutes he called back with the name and number of a mechanic friend. I called Nateem who on Sunday evening in New York directed me to a repair shop in Brooklyn. After arriving, Nateem’s assistant Iqbal had one of his people put my car up to determine the damage, repair needed and parts required.
Well Iqbal and his team couldn’t fix my vehicle but they made sure my daughter and I got to the Brooklyn Marriott safely.
By the time my daughter I went to sleep I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the love these wonderful angels. The next morning, Memorial Day, a search for the necessary parts was on. When they couldn’t be found I booked flights home for my daughter and I.
Once safely back in GA I received a call from Parwez. He informed me my car was fixed and he was having it shipped back to GA. No words could express my gratitude to my heavenly Father for His grace and mercy. He sent Parwez seven years ago as a test for this past Sunday so I could escape from NY.
If ever there was an example to treat people the way you want to be treated all the time, here it is. (Matt 7:12) Oh yeah, you better believe I can’t wait until next year’s trip to see what God has in store.
See you next Sunday
MJ
PS Working together with others, serving the Lord day or night, telling the story of Jesus promises endless delight.