My Story

• Posted by Rev. Paul D. Ragsdale Jr November 16, 2009 - 1,067 views

   

  I drove a Semi Truck close to 11 yrs before retiring off the road. But back about 5 or 6 years ago I was in Boston, MA taking a load going to California. I walked into the truck stop after weighing my load and headed to the lounge area where the driver showers and restrooms are.

   

  In a booth was this fat man about 300 – 350 lbs with a huge wooden cross around his neck. I chuckled to myself and thought what a goof, this cross was about 9 inches across and at least 1 ½ ft. long. I washed my hands and headed back out to the truck and got another chuckle as I got a better glimpse of him.

   

  Off I go into the sunset, I stopped at a few truck stops on the way through and this same fat man with his wooden cross around his neck was sitting in a booth. It didn’t really hit me until later when I was seeing him in every truck stop on my way to California; it no longer was funny as it was weird.

   

  A total of 3 days I seen the Fat man with the cross as I parked my truck for the night in Barstow, CA I ran into the fat man once again, as I went back to take a well needed shower there he is squeezed into a booth near the drivers area. As I passed him this time I quipped “Are You Following Me?” he said you never know.

  I thought about it while I was taking my shower and shaving as I finished heading back out to the truck and he was still squeezed into his booth, I approached him and I said I have seen you everywhere I stopped for fuel, eats and shower, he said he wasn’t going anywhere for awhile pointing out to his old beat up car out the window “I blew out a tire” he said.

   

  A chill came over me like I have never felt before, I told him I needed to call my wife and I would be back in a few, “I’m not going anywhere soon” he said. I went outside and quickly got the size off the car I asked my wife to three way me into the local tire shop / tow truck I asked about a tire including size he said 135.00 If we come out to mount it. I paid by credit card and as I went back to where the fat man was sitting I told him that a tow truck would be bringing a tire and mounting it for him, but I had to drop my load in the trailer lot and head down to Yuma, AZ and pick up a load and I left

  The next day a message came over the Quall Comm.

  (On board messaging device for texting our dispatchers) Thank you for helping me in my time of need you surely will receive many blessings...

  I asked my dispatcher what the name was and if they left a phone number, The dispatcher said he did not, He quickly explained what I had done to my dispatcher and he sent the message as he left it.

   

  I often think about the Wooden Cross fat man and how my life has changed Paying off my property and home, and many other blessings, I believe that it was my test of the good in my heart and my compassions. I never have seen him again on my finishing years driving the Big Truck but I assure you It keeps me on my toes….