Love saved us on a summer's day

When I was in high school, I had an experience that changed my life. By that I mean that I gained proof that God is Love and that He is always present with us. I had been told this by my loving parents and Sunday School teachers, and every Sunday I had seen the words “God is Love” (see I John 4:16 ) in big gold-colored letters on the wall of the Sunday School. But it was an experience among high school friends, none of whom was a Christian Scientist, that left me with proof of those sacred words.

On a hot summer day in August, five of us cooked up the idea to go to a local quarry to swim and lie on the rocks to bask in the sun. Since none of us had cars, and we were just learning to drive, we asked the mother of one of the girls if she would take us. She did, and when she dropped us off, she told us to be at the side of the road at 5:00 p.m. so she could pick us up. It was a country road without much traffic, and we just had to walk a short way through some wooded areas to the deserted quarry. My mother had given me permission to go swimming with my friends, but looking back, I am sure had she realized we were by ourselves without phone access (this was before cellphones), she might not have allowed me to go.

We had a wonderful afternoon, what one would term an idyllic time. A little before 5:00 p.m. we gathered our things and made our way back to the road to wait for my friend’s mother. Unfortunately, she was late. We waited and waited together, certain that she would come by at any minute. 

What happened next was something none of us could have anticipated. A car full of teenagers, who were about our age but from a very different background, pulled to the side of the road and got out of the car. They had been drinking and began using profane language and making vulgar comments to us. There was one girl with the boys, and she was talking and behaving very aggressively toward us.

All I saw were those three words: “God is Love.”

It was apparent that the source of this hostility was that my friends and I were from fairly affluent families, while the members of the other group were not. None of the girls in my group said a word. We were all just standing there, and I could see the fear in my friends’ eyes. Then the boys began to talk about “taking us into the woods” one at a time, while the girl would stand guard by the rest of us. I saw then that this girl had a knife in her hand. I knew I must pray, but I felt paralyzed by the scene in front of me. I remember reaching out to God, and all I saw were those three words in gold on my Sunday School wall: “God is Love.” 

I knew this was my angel message. Never before or since have I prayed as I did that day to understand the spiritual meaning of those words. I wanted to know this Love that I knew could still the storm before me, just as it had stilled the sea for the disciples when they called on Christ Jesus to save them (see Mark 4:35–41 ).

What followed was almost surreal. I heard an angel thought tell me very clearly to ask this girl what school she attended. The question seemed preposterous given our situation, but I was obedient and mustered the courage to ask. After a startled look from her and my friends, she replied. The boys had returned to the car, but we were told they’d be back for us. 

I tried to remember if I knew someone from the school she mentioned. One name came to mind, so I asked her if she knew this boy. Her response was immediate and her whole demeanor changed. She put the knife away and exchanged a few more words with me in a friendly manner, and then she returned to the car and the group left.

My friends asked how I had gotten up the courage to speak to the girl. I said I had prayed. They all said that they had prayed, too. We were so happy to see my friend’s mother’s car appear, even though she was two hours late. (She had forgotten!)

I was so moved by this experience that I couldn’t speak of it for some time. I knew, as did my friends, that we had witnessed the power of prayer. Those three words found in First John are alive with healing. I know because I lived it on that hot summer day.