Amazing Coincidences!
Jan 16, 2021 22:47:54 #
It was the summer graduated from high school and I was finally 18 and could now work on a drilling rig if I could find a job. After I found my first job drilling a water well for the hometown of Saint Jo, there was a lull and then my cousin Duane and I drive out to Midland, Odessa, and other likely spots where we hoped we would find employment.
It was amusing how individuals were hired for jobs in West Texas. There was a small “greasy spoon” café in the highway entering Big Spring. Any roughneck seeking work would put his name and address on a guest check form and put it in a cigar box kept by the manager. Any driller seeking a hand would come in, rifle through the box and select a candidate. That was how I was rousted out of bed and hired one morning about 6 A.M.
My roughnecking job in Big Spring was in-field drilling, which meant drilling a well in about a week, cement it, and move to the next location. It was just a job, but it did give me a lot of experience in all phases of a drilling operation, setting up, spudding in, making trips, cementing the well, tearing down, and moving.
There were two or three men from my hometown, or who had grown up nearby who were all residing in the same rooming house with me. At least one guy, named Duckworth, had been in the Army and was stationed in Alaska. For some reason, he had a photograph taken in either a bar or café, that he showed us taken in Alaska. I looked at the picture and recognized a guy that had grown up out in country where I was raised. I said, “that is Carol Lee Webb! How did you manage to come together in Alaska?” Well, I suppose the U.S. Army does strange things during wartime.
Now, since I planned to enter college the coming fall, I would send all the extra money home over my bare expenses. Every day, the driller would pick his crew up and then we would drive by the ice house and buy a block of ice for our drinking water can. We alternated who would pay the one dollar for the ice. One day when my turn came up, I had not a penny in my pocket to pay for our ice. Not knowing what else to do, I took the bucket up to the loading dock, and the worker went in to get our block of ice.
I didn’t know what I would do, but as I stood there waiting, I looked down. On the ground under the dock, where a lot of water had dripped from the melting ice, lay a crumpled and damp one dollar bill! I picked it up and paid the worker. I could not help but just say, “Thank You, God!” I was so grateful for that small favor. Many would have said it was just a matter of coincidence, but I took it as a blessing from on High. Just Sayin…. RJS
It was amusing how individuals were hired for jobs in West Texas. There was a small “greasy spoon” café in the highway entering Big Spring. Any roughneck seeking work would put his name and address on a guest check form and put it in a cigar box kept by the manager. Any driller seeking a hand would come in, rifle through the box and select a candidate. That was how I was rousted out of bed and hired one morning about 6 A.M.
My roughnecking job in Big Spring was in-field drilling, which meant drilling a well in about a week, cement it, and move to the next location. It was just a job, but it did give me a lot of experience in all phases of a drilling operation, setting up, spudding in, making trips, cementing the well, tearing down, and moving.
There were two or three men from my hometown, or who had grown up nearby who were all residing in the same rooming house with me. At least one guy, named Duckworth, had been in the Army and was stationed in Alaska. For some reason, he had a photograph taken in either a bar or café, that he showed us taken in Alaska. I looked at the picture and recognized a guy that had grown up out in country where I was raised. I said, “that is Carol Lee Webb! How did you manage to come together in Alaska?” Well, I suppose the U.S. Army does strange things during wartime.
Now, since I planned to enter college the coming fall, I would send all the extra money home over my bare expenses. Every day, the driller would pick his crew up and then we would drive by the ice house and buy a block of ice for our drinking water can. We alternated who would pay the one dollar for the ice. One day when my turn came up, I had not a penny in my pocket to pay for our ice. Not knowing what else to do, I took the bucket up to the loading dock, and the worker went in to get our block of ice.
I didn’t know what I would do, but as I stood there waiting, I looked down. On the ground under the dock, where a lot of water had dripped from the melting ice, lay a crumpled and damp one dollar bill! I picked it up and paid the worker. I could not help but just say, “Thank You, God!” I was so grateful for that small favor. Many would have said it was just a matter of coincidence, but I took it as a blessing from on High. Just Sayin…. RJS
Jan 16, 2021 22:57:14 #
Jan 16, 2021 23:05:52 #
Spirit: These were but a few of the things that have happened to me over these years, from accidents that came within a whisker of taking my life, to those at the ice house. I believe I have been blessed for a purpose, or purposes. I am thankful and hope I can meet the challenge(s), whatever they are. Just Sayin....RJS
Jan 16, 2021 23:59:11 #
Robert J Samples wrote:
Spirit: These were but a few of the things that have happened to me over these years, from accidents that came within a whisker of taking my life, to those at the ice house. I believe I have been blessed for a purpose, or purposes. I am thankful and hope I can meet the challenge(s), whatever they are. Just Sayin....RJS
I also say “no coincidence”.
God is good and takes care of His children. I cannot even count the number of times God has provided for me in my life. 🙏🏻
As believers, we must always remember to thank Him for all He has done and still continues to do for us each day.
Jan 17, 2021 08:24:35 #
Robert J Samples wrote:
Spirit: These were but a few of the things that have happened to me over these years, from accidents that came within a whisker of taking my life, to those at the ice house. I believe I have been blessed for a purpose, or purposes. I am thankful and hope I can meet the challenge(s), whatever they are. Just Sayin....RJS
RJ you have defiantly been blessed with the ability to make one feel like we are right there with you in your stories.
Jan 17, 2021 09:15:47 #
Jan 17, 2021 09:28:11 #
Jan 17, 2021 15:14:28 #
Randyhartford wrote:
I also say “no coincidence”.
God is good and takes care of His children. I cannot even count the number of times God has provided for me in my life. 🙏🏻
As believers, we must always remember to thank Him for all He has done and still continues to do for us each day.
God is good and takes care of His children. I cannot even count the number of times God has provided for me in my life. 🙏🏻
As believers, we must always remember to thank Him for all He has done and still continues to do for us each day.
Amen brother. I feel the exact same way.
Jan 18, 2021 00:57:41 #
Mauwehu
Loc: Norwalk Ct
Another good one RJ! I meet with a group of Christian men every week. We had the coincidence discussion last week. The atheist in the group who recently found The Lord said as an atheist I called crazy things a coincidence now I see them as God. The Lord knows what we need before we need it. What’s interesting about the story to me is how you proceeded to get the ice without the money and then it showed up rather than just give up—-faith is!......”buy milk and honey without money”
Jan 18, 2021 11:53:05 #
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