In the back of my head I have about three potential blog posts just waiting for me to get enough time in between work, soccer, youth group, wedding planning, and hanging out with Drew to actually put into words. However, today I experienced something that I need to get out of my head in some way, and since I cannot reach Drew by phone I am going to write my thoughts here.
It is not happy, nor an exciting adventure I have been on, but it is part of life just the same...
The train had just left Röthenbach, and was pulling up to the station at Steinburg near the Röthenbach high school when the train stopped just short of the station and the doors did not open. As the passengers and I looked around confused to see our car, the last train-car, stopped about twenty feet before the station. The train-conductor came over the loud speaker and said something I didn't understand. So, when the elderly woman sitting next to me asked me what he had said, I left her to watch my bag while I went to the front of the train to see what had happened.
As I walked into the next train-car I could see school-aged children at the station looking incredibly worried and helpless, and then I could hear a strange noise, a young man's voice saying something in German, but I was confused because I didn't know who was speaking. Then, I realized there was a young man under the train, but was he okay? Why wasn't anyone doing anything? What could I do? The doors are locked...can I get out the window to help? No, so I am stuck in here, and he is stuck there. We are both helpless...
Another announcement over the loud speaker told us that we could get off the train near the front, if we wished, which I did immediately as I was trying to avoid the tears that were fighting to come out. There were medics and firefighters there in no time, and I was relieved to hear through my broken German the boy seemed to be alive, injured of course, but at least he was alive.
As I waited for the train, many thoughts went through my head. Life is a valuable thing, and I should not take it for granted. The only time I have is right now, so I should always make the most of each moment. Maybe I should become a doctor so I could help in such a situation. Finally, I was thankful it was not me, which immediately made me feel guilty, and terribly sad for this young man whose life will never be the same.
Yes, I am still helpless, but the one thing I can do is pray that God would be with this young man and make the rest of his life incredible and full.
