I have lots of “angel stories” that I could share. One that sticks out in my head happened when I lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma and was driving alone into town one night in the rain.
I was going too fast and came to a four way stop, put on my brakes and skidded through the intersection. Two cars came within a few feet of hitting me. As I made it to the other side speechless and shaking, I knew God had sent an angel to take me through the intersection.
I thanked God the rest of the evening.
A few weeks ago, a sophomore at Tulane University named Katie Lentz was driving on the highway between Quincy, Illinois to Jefferson City, Missouri when an oncoming car crossed into her lane and collided with her head-on.
Katie’s car was crushed around her, and emergency workers fought for over 45 minutes to free her from the wreckage, as her vital signs began to fail. But nothing was working.
Finally they had no choice but to try to flip the car (with Katie in it) on end, a dangerous move because a sudden change in pressure to the body can be critical. As they prepared to shift the car, Katie, fully conscious, asked for someone to pray with her.
A voice said, “I will.” Emergency workers on the scene reported that a silver-haired priest stepped forward, seemingly out of nowhere. The street was blocked off 2 miles from the accident scene, and no one from the nearby communities recognized him as he began to pray openly for Katie and for her rescuers.
When the prayer was over, the priest stepped back and twenty emergency workers moved swiftly to right the car. Against the odds, Katie’s vital signs improved, and the rescue team managed to remove her safely and get her into a waiting helicopter.
When members of the team turned to thank the priest, he was gone. And although there are nearly 70 photographs documenting the accident scene from the time emergency crews arrived until the time they left, the priest does not appear in any of them.
Wow! Right?
When first heard about this story from the Denisen Forum On Truth and Culture , it gave me chills. I love what Dr. Denisen wrote about its meaning:
The Bible says that angels are “ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14). It adds that we sometimes meet “angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2). In a skeptical culture which measures reality by what we can prove, it’s good to remind ourselves occasionally that God’s presence is more pervasive and powerful than we can imagine.
The particular “mystery priest” who prayed with Katie Lentz has since been identified as Rev. Patrick Dowling of Jefferson City. But human priest or a heavenly angel, I have no doubt that his presence at the scene was orchestrated by God (and maybe even an angel or two!). And what Dr. Denisen wrote absolutely holds true.
God’s presence is more powerful and pervasive than we can imagine, and it is all too easy to forget that in the course of our daily lives.
Do you believe that God works in our lives through angels? Do you have an angel story to share?
Diane Paddison shares more advice, What Mom Taught Me About Beauty
Diane Paddison has held several executive positions for corporations, including Chief Operating Officer for two Fortune 500 companies, Trammell Crow (now CB Richard Ellis) and ProLogis. She is currently the Chief Strategy Officer at the commercial real estate firm Cassidy Turley, and the founder of 4WordWomen, a national nonprofit designed to connect, lead and support young professional Christian women to fulfill their God-given potential.
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