Train Bound for Nowhere

He boarded the Amtrak in Milwaukee, his ticket punched for the ride west to Spokane. Hopefully this would give him enough time to reconcile his thoughts. Purchasing a sleeper car on the upper level Ed was able to close his door, pull the curtains too and stare out the window. In his eyes, it was literally the train bound for nowhere. The first stop in Columbus WI, just outside of Madison came quick. Upon reflection Ed didn't even recall the scenery between the cities. His mind lost in his hopeless misery.

Two days prior to embarking on this impromptu journey Ed was given the news no one wants to hear. His cancer had returned and metastasized to his bones. Treatment options were limited to clinical trials. Recently divorced, Ed felt the weight of the world closing in. He needed to get away for a few days and just think. Not sure what he was going to think about, but never the less it was his escape. With no agenda, he would figure it out as he goes.

As the train pulled out of Columbus for the short shoot over to Portage Ed felt like this was a good time to grab pencil and paper and start writing down the things he needed to get done in the event this was IT. Ed was so entrenched in his journalism that he completely missed the next two stops. When the announcement came at Tomah WI that dinner was being served, that was his queue to take a break. Admittedly the burger in the dining car was not great but it did serve the purpose. On the walk back to his cabin for some reason the gravity of the situation came baring down. Till this moment Ed had not fully understood or maybe just ignored how grave his plight truly was. But all the sudden, like a ton of bricks, it hit him. The loneliness of it all was too much to deal with. God had left him years ago, his marriage ended in force three years prior, and when his company downsized he was forced to take a job with much less status and pay. What the hell is the use, why am I even writing this junk down, he thought. The old cliche was correct "life is a bitch, then you die"

The dancing lights of the communities and houses were playing melodic tunes as the train eased on down the tracks. Ed knew that not a single person in those homes cared about what he was dealing with. He was a man on an island dying a lonely death. As the train stopped and started in all the points between his destinations one or two people would get on or off each time. Ed's window was right above the door so he was able to see the faces of the people as they stepped on board. He thought to himself, I wonder what story they have.

The minutes turned to hours and before he knew it the sun was rising over Fargo ND. The call came for breakfast. Even though Ed wasn't hungry, he knew he needed to eat. Beings he was traveling alone, the host in the dining car always seated you with other people. When the lead host directed Ed to his seat there was a man already at the table. Ed extended his hand, introduced himself, and ask how he was doing. The man replied, my name is Rick and I'm living a dream. Ed's immediate thoughts were, DAMN one of these positive idiots that thinks everything is just grand.

To Ed's surprise the conversation with Rick was pleasant, if not encouraging. It was like a breath of fresh air. After exiting the dining car they decided to carry the conversation to the observation deck. Rick shared life wisdom with Ed with such eloquence that hope was beginning to gain traction. Devil's Lake, Minot, Stanley, Williston, the towns were flying by. The beauty of God's landscape was at such a climatic point that Ed could not help but to take notice. Why haven't I seen all this beauty before, he thought to himself. Who is this guy named Rick anyway. As the train pulled into Glasgow MT about noon, Rick said to Ed "this is my stop, I have to be leaving now". Ed replied, "don't you have bags to gather". Rick replied "no, I only boarded to meet you".

As the train pulled away Ed was left in stunned silence. Yet for some reason he felt a burden was lifted and hope was returning. For the next two hours Ed sit in the observation car taking in the amazing beauty of Glacier Park. How can there not be a God with all this grandeur. Everything Rick said kept resonating in Ed's mind. "God didn't bring you this far just to leave you". "You are always one decision away from a totally different life". "Talk to yourself like you would to someone that you love". "Hope is the only thing stronger than fear". "You did not wake up today to be average". "Be the reason someone believes in the goodness of people". "Be the hope to the hopeless and be the sun in someone's cloudy day". Why, Ed thought, do I remember all these darn quotes he shared with me. But wait, there was one more, Ed thought to himself, Rick said "no one is going to walk into your life and make your dreams come true, you have to decide the life you would like to live. Do more than just exist and by all means DO NOT DIE BEFORE YOU ARE DEAD".

I didn't even ask Rick where he was from or where he was going, heck I didn't even ask his last name. We passed Libby, Sandpoint ID and finally well after midnight we arrived in Spokane. As the train was easing into Union Station it occurred to me, it's late, I did not plan for lodging or transportation. In the haste of trying to escape life I overlooked the very things that I would need to sustain it. Normally this would be a highly anxious near panic situation, but not this time. For some reason Ed felt totally at peace. After disembarking from the train and walking into the front door of Union Station Ed heard a voice. "Sir are you Ed McSally" yes I am, why are you asking. I'm your transportation. Rather taken aback Ed replied "my transportation to where". The young man said "sir I have instruction to take you to Marriott Courtyard".

As it turned out a friend from Milwaukee that Ed had felt was a lifelong enemy had set the wheels in motion. He paid for Rick to board the train and engage Ed. Rick was the lead pastor at a wonderful nondenominational evangelical church. He entered the picture to share hope and inspiration with Ed. Once arriving in Spokane the driver and the hotel concierge gave Ed his accommodations. The next morning at the hotel breakfast, Ed was approached by a well dressed lady that informed him that he had an appointment at the university hospital in one hour. Ed was shocked to say the least, but what the heck.

To bring this story to date, Ed was able to get his cancer in remission. He is back at work at the same company he has spent many years at. Ed has gotten involved in a local church helping people as they deal with the emotions of cancer. To this day Ed does not know who the angel friend was. Not a day goes by that he does not recall the quotes and the miracles that happened on that crazy trip several years back.
Every day you climb aboard your own train bound for nowhere. Today you may be giving out the miracle, tomorrow you may be the miracle. It truly is a beautiful day when we allow God to love others through us. Never give up, because you never know what angels are lurking in your midst. People do not always enter our lives by chance, the enter for a reason, season, or lifetime. You may never meet or get to know the angels around you but that doesn't change the fact that they are there. Be receptive to love and healing and dare to believe that something amazing is about to happen in your life.
ALL ABOARD, next stop HOPE

based on a true story

God bless
Dale