The Prophetic Taxi Driver

Exhausted from a busy work week, my friend, Doctor Susie, decided it would be best if she slept in and had a cab transport me to the airport for my flight out to Texas. Susie arranged for a cab to pick me up in New Orleans at 6:30 am. Susie had the cab ride all arranged for me before I could even attempt to reject the idea. My main concern was the cost of the cab fee and my lack of funds, considering my current job has great benefits, but they are "out of this world" and at this time, I pay TO work. Susie hugged me good-bye, told me the cab fee was only $30.oo, for a 15-minute drive ( I almost choked), and then she jumped into bed. I continued packing my belongings hoping to soon hit the hay myself. But, being slightly concerned about detail, I checked my cash stash. $21.00 is all I found. Shoot... I started to panic. I had no more cash, Susie was fast asleep, I was no where near an ATM, and I was guessing the cab driver wouldn't want one of my nice little checks from a bank in Idaho. I grabbed the phone book and saw that the cab company took visa. I thought that was odd, so I called the company to double check. Sure thing. They accepted visa. No worries. The next morning the cab driver was prompt and on time. We started our short journey to the airport. The cab driver was friendly and very talkative. Out of politeness, I asked him if he just started his shift. He reported he had been working all night long and was actually the dispatcher that took my friend's call requesting the early AM pick-up for me. He said all the other drivers were busy that morning, but he knew I was a young lady that needed to get to the airport, so he agreed to drive me even though his shift was over. After he made that comment, I had some really stupid thoughts, results of watching too many creepy movies. I thought he was scary and going to eat me with gumbo or hurt me. I was thinking.. um, that is why I wanted my friend to take me to the airport in the first place... Coming back to reality, the stupid thoughts left and we continued chatting. The taxi drive found out I was a volunteer in Africa and he thought it was really admirable. He then started spouting off an amazing array of philosophical quotes and facts. I couldn't believe, that he was attempting to discuss philosophy at such an early hour, but a lot of what he was saying made sense. I was actually impressed and touched by many of the topics he discussed. After awhile, I was beginning to wonder how much longer it could take to reach the airport. Although the taxi driver's conversation was interesting; I was tired and it was 6:40am! I was politely nodding to his comments, but starting to zone out. Then he looked me in the eye through his rear view mirror and caught my attention. He said, “Young lady, I sense that sometime in your youth, your teenage years, someone broke your trust and it has been hard for you to trust ever sense then. I sense you are angry with yourself regarding this situation. It wasn’t your fault for trusting, you feel horrible about it, but so does the person that hurt you. And now, you struggle with trust. You build up walls that are not easy to get through. Those walls will cause you to miss out." I cannot even really recall what else the man said, but I was so shocked by his words and the accuracy of his statement. This man had never met me and had no way of knowing something so personal to me. But, in some manner he was speaking directly to my heart. No, I haven't been sitting around hurt and lonely because of this past, broken trust, but some of his message really rang true. He then went on the say this quote: “Don’t let anger, bitterness, or resentment keep you from reason, logic, good judgment and a thing called love. “ New Orleans Taxi Driver I still do not know why that quote has impressed me so much. But, I think it is very applicable for everyone. I think there are tiny nuggets of truth that we can learn from it. It doesn't have to apply to only male and female relationships, but can apply to any relationship. Maybe it could also apply to our concept and opinion of God. Either way, I have been thinking about the truth of this statement and the fact that we need to attempt to let things of the past be past. We cannot let the past "spoiled attempts at love" taint our vision of God's truest, purest, love. Okay, I know I am not a philosophy major, so I will move on. The taxi driver finally pulled up to the airport and reported the cab fee was $30. I said, "you take visa, right?" He looked at me like I was an alien, no way did they take visa. I felt horrible, I said, but I even called the company last night and confirmed that you take visa. He assured me that was never their policy or action. I said, "but I don't have enough cash." He replied, "how much you got?" Embarrassed, I reported, "$21.00." He said, "sounds perfect." I was still distraught and he said, "Darling, why you feelin' bad?" Obviously, it was because I didn't have the proper payment for the cab fare and I didn't want to cheat the man. He said, "don't feel bad, $21.00 is great for me!" I handed him all the cash I had. Thanked him for the ride and one more time he said: “Don’t let anger, bitterness, or resentment keep you from reason, logic, good judgment and a thing called love." I believe that New Orleans taxi driver knows God. If he does not, I still believe God used him to speak to me and bless me. I had thought $30.00 was a steep cab fare and I ended up only having to pay $21.00 So, I didn't get a Louisiana swamp tour, or a chance to visit the Voo Doo Costume shop, but I believe I met a prophetic taxi driver. Crazy as that may sound, it fits in perfect with the crazy city of New Orleans. But, after all there is never any place on earth too crazy for God to find us and speak to us!