This morning I awoke at 5 am to drive to my usual trail to do my usual long run. I dressed, ate, did a light warm up, got in the car, backed out of the driveway and began my usual routine with - "Good morning Jesus, thank you for...."
Several minutes later I noticed a car behind me. I was doing the speed limit and minding my own business so I didn't think much of it. A half mile later the tailing car flashed its lights at me. That worried me a bit. I was still doing the speed limit, thought maybe he wanted to pass, so I moved over just a bit. The car didn't pass. In fact, he got a little closer. My heart began to pound. I was being followed! Keeping my eyes on the road, I reached for my phone.
"911, what's your emergency?"
"Hello, my name is Colleen Wait. I'm driving a blue Ford sedan South on Main Street towards Vine. There is a car behind me. He flashed his headlights. I don't think it is a police car because no lights or sirens. If it is a police car, I want you to know I am not going to pull over unless you tell me it is safe."
"Ma'am, do not pull over. Let me check."
Silence for what seemed like forever. I looked up at the rear-view mirror. My heart hit my stomach when blue and red lights began flashing. I turned on my emergency flashers to acknowledge him.
"Operator! There are now police lights. No siren, just lights."
"Ma'am, please continue to drive. There is not an officer in pursuit in your area. Please continue to drive cautiously until I tell you otherwise."
"Yes. Okay." I'm shaking. The guy behind me is obviously not a cop. He flashed his lights at me again and I continue to pray. Turning a bend I saw an intersection. "Ma'am I'm about to come to an intersection. If the light turns red do I run it?"
"No. If you are able to turn right, do so. What is the name of the street?"
"Central. Light just turned yellow."
I slowed down, looked left. No cars were coming so I knew I could simply slow down enough to turn. But then I saw lights. I would have to stop. As soon as I stopped, I looked up at my rear-view mirror. The man jumped out of his car. I hit the gas and turned, ignoring the headlights approaching me. He jumped back into his car.
Suddenly, the streets lit up with red and blue lights. A police car raced in front of me and stopped, two more pulled up behind me and even more surrounded the car that had been tailing me.
"The calvary has arrived," I said to the 911 operator. I let out a huge sigh of relief. "Can I hang up now? I need to call my husband."
"Yes ma'am. Are you alright?"
"Yes. Thank you. Looks like Jesus saved the day. God bless you and keep you and all the real police officers." I hung up and dialed home.
"Hello? About to run?"
"Not yet." An officer walked up and stood next to my window. I flashed him the thumbs up. "I was being tailed," I said as calmly as I could. "The police are here and I'm fine." The officer knocked on my window. "Hold on. Yes?"
"Are you Colleen Wait?" asked the officer.
"Yes. I called 911. The man is not a police officer, right?"
"No ma'am, he is not."
"What's going on?" asked my husband.
"A man was tailing me, posed as a cop. I'm fine."
"Coming back home?"
"No. I have my run. I'm not going to let him ruin my day. I'll call you when I get to the trail."
"Are you sure? Is it safe?"
"I'm sure. Call you in a bit. Love you." I hung up the phone then asked the officer, "So, who is he?"
"We're checking now."
I looked in the rear view mirror and saw the man being placed in handcuffs and into a patrol car. "I'd like to speak to him."
"Excuse me?"
I took off my seatbelt and opened the door. "I want to say something to him."
"That's not a good idea."
I strolled past the officer, who followed right behind me. He told the officer standing next to the patrol car what I wanted to do. He shook his head then opened the car door.
"What the **&^%) do you want?" The man spit at me.
"I simply wanted to tell you that I forgive you," I said, leaning in to get a look at him.
"Go to hell."
"You are a child of God. However, you only did what you did because Satan holds your heart in his hands."
"You're crazy."
"Maybe. But its a good kind of crazy. I forgive you. If you ever want Satan to let go, simply ask Jesus. He'll guide you home."
"Go to hell, lady!"
"No, thank you. I'm never going there and I will pray for you constantly that you won't either." I turned and walked back towards my car.
"I need you to sign some papers," stated the officer who escorted me to my car.
I read over the paper, gave the information that was requested, then got back in my car. "Can I go now?"
"Yes ma'am. Would you like an escort home?"
"No, I"m not going home. I'm going running."
"Then I'll escort you there."
The officer followed me to my favorite trail head, shook my hand, then left. I strapped on my water belt, walked over to the small, enclosed garden, walked up to a bench and dropped to my knees.
"Father," I prayed, "thank you for saving my life." I continued to pray for the man who wanted to do me harm and for those who were sent to prevent that from happening.
I then stood up, wiped my tears, walked over to the trail and began my run the way I usually do - "Good morning, Jesus, thank you......
(Note: This is not a true story. It could be, might be to someone. However, today it was simply one of the random thoughts that ran through my head in between prayers while I was out running. PS, Jesus always saves the day, spiritually even if not physically if you will let him.)
