Spiritual Moments

HELP ME, GOD! By Karen Ripepi This is a story that is unbelievable to some people, but it is true! One day, four years ago, I was running errands and had to stop at my insurance agency to pay my monthly premium. I had gotten out of my car, and started to walk up the sidewalk. It was about ½ block away. I had previously had a stroke, so any pavement or any surface that was uneven gave me a bit of trouble. I stepped off the curb, crossed a little alley, and went to step up on the other curb to the insurance office. When I did, I fell. I fell hard!—and straight on my face. There is a place, as you come across the Apollo bridge, called The Pub. The owner’s son is challenged. He is older and is always out, directing traffic and just waving at people. He had seen me fall. I turned my head and saw him come running up. He does not speak. So, he was just standing, looking at me. The only thing I can remember saying was, “Please, dear God, help me!” I didn’t know how I was going to get up. I saw a stop sign behind me, and I thought, if I could only crawl to that stop sign, I might be able to pull myself up. It wasn’t a split second later that I heard someone behind me say, “Do you need help?” I turned my head, because I was still on the ground. I saw a man, not very tall, wearing worn blue jeans, a light blue raggy shirt with the sleeves cut out, and work boots. The sun was shining, so I couldn’t see his face, but he had long light hair. I replied, “Just let me crawl to that stop sign, so I can hold onto it and pull myself up.” In that instant, I felt his arms go underneath my arm pits and I was lifted straight up. My feet even left the ground. He was not a large man. Not at all. If I had to describe him, I would say he was either a construction worker or a carpenter—something along those lines. I was in shock. As soon as I was picked up, I turned my head to thank him and to see if he was OK after lifting me. There was no one there! The only one still standing there was the gentleman from The Pub. He was hitting his head. I said to him, “Did you see where he went? Where did that man go?” He just looked at me and continued to hit his head. I knew he wasn’t going to answer me, so I got my bearings and looked down the alley. I looked all around, because I knew what he looked like—I knew what he was wearing. Nothing! Absolutely nothing! There was no one in sight. I was so shocked, I had to stand there for a minute and think about what had happened. The only thing I could surmise from this is that I asked for God’s help and He sent an angel. To this day, when we drive down past that area, I am constantly searching for my angel. I have never seen him again.