JD, I think things like that would be very appropriate here too.

Last week my husband put his application and resume into a company for a better paying job.  Today when I went home for lunch, I noticed they had called, but our answering machine is not working properly, so their message didn't save.  My husband called back, but the lady who called him was out to lunch.  So, he's currently waiting at home for her return call.  Hopefully, it's for an interview and then a job!  If he gets this job, I can quit my 2nd job!  It has good pay, better benefits, and 3-12 hour days, which means on the other 4 days he'd be all mine!  Maybe after a couple months we'll pay off our debts and have enough money for DSL!  I really hope he gets this job...

My mom, dad, grandmother, aunt and uncle will be flying back from Germany on Saturday.  I'm praying for a safe, uneventful flight. 

My mom also told me on the phone that my brother-in-law got some bad news, which means to me that he is going to be deployed to Iraq, she didn't want to say so on the phone.  My sister just found out that she's pregnant and will give birth probably while he's gone.  They have a one year old daughter and I have a nephew by my brother-in-law's first marriage who is 11 that lives in Texas.  Please send good vibes their way, if you would. 

I'm sending them all out to all of you!   

I need to put one in myself!

Thanks to some corporate shenanigans, my company finds itself in a bad way.  We need some new clients soon and I would really appreciate some prayers for us to be sent in the right direction.

Man, the timing of this thread is perfect, because something happened today that shook me a little bit and I'm hoping a little prayer will help.

I stop home on my route at around 3:15 every day, and today when I left again at about 3:25 I saw a guy walking down my block holding his chest.  He was probably in his 40's, quite heavy-set, and having trouble breathing.

I asked him if he was ok and he said he was walking home from the bar a block away (I can see it from my living room window) and was just out of breath, he asked if I'd mind giving him a ride, that he only lived about a block away.

But he was really seemingly in bad shape, so I asked if I should call 911, but he insisted he was just out of breath (even though he kept holding his chest).

I drove him to his apartment, and along the way could see he was a smoker (he had a pack of cigarettes in his pocket).  I again asked him to let me take him to the emergency or call 911, but he refused (at this point he was still breathing so heavy he could barely talk and still holding his chest).  I just couldn't convince him to let me help him.

He thanked me for the ride, shook my hand, and told me his name (first & last).  I watched him go into the apartments and then I had to get moving because I was late on my route.

But this bothered me the rest of the day.  In fact I missed two of my off-ramps because my mind was on him instead of my job and so I kept falling further behind all day.

As I was driving all I kept thinking was "what if this guy lives alone" (which I would bet he does based on his appearance and the fact he was walking home from a bar at 3 in the afternoon).  He could die of a heart-attack in his apartment and it could be days before someone noticed.

I was wishing I had gotten his phone number, or given him my number, or called 911, or SOMETHING.

At any rate, I'm praying tonight that this man is ok.  I'm also planning on stopping by his apartment tomorrow to check on him.

I know this may sound wierd, but lately I've really started to beleive everything has a purpose.  The fact that he got off his barstool and started walking, and I got up from my computer and headed out to the car, just in time for us to cross paths, makes me feel like I was supposed to help this guy, and I'm worried I didn't do enough.

I also feel like the fact he made a point of telling me his ENTIRE name was an opportunity to actually be able to check up on him, because I can go back to the apartment and find his name on the mailbox so I know which door to knock on.  I mean, I never tell people my entire name in a greeting.  I would say, "Hi, I'm Jeremy", not "Hi, I'm Jeremy Riggs".  It just seemed odd.

Anyway.  I suppose this post sounds a bit insane, but the whole incident is still weighing kind of heavy on my mind and I needed to get it out there. 

Sometimes you forget judgement and just be more nice than safe.  There have been so many times that I have relied on the helpfulness of strangers that I am so grateful they helped me instead of playing it safe.

Jeremy, that guy is probably grateful that you did as much as you did.  If he explicity asked you not to call 911, you followed his wishes, and you shouldn't beat yourself up about that.  Checking up on him today would probably be a good thing.  Not only will you be making sure that he's okay, but doing so you may be more of a friend that anyone else this guy has right now.

Way to go, JR.

I applaud your courage, heart, and willingness to care.  Never doubt that things happen for a reason.  Give us an update.

TO ALL:  Please keep the U.S.A. on your hearts and in your thoughts today, it is the National Day of Prayer.  Also let's not for get the UK and Ultimo, they are having their national elections today.

I agree that everything happens for a reason.  Before I met my husband, he and his friend had planned to move across the country to San Diego.  They had an apartment set up and everything.  And then halfway there, they're car broke down and they had to use all their money to fix it; they had to come back to Indiana and didn't get to go to San Diego.  A month or so later, my husband met me.  We (and all of our friends) have no doubt that I was the reason he didn't make it to California.

All of the FFR family is alive and well today, and that in itself is a blessing.  Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers, and I'll keep everyone (and the guy down the street) in my thoughts today.

Let's keep fellow members Zim and MzHartz in mind for continued sucess with their physical health.  We're with you and we know you'll hit your goals.

Star-

Sorry for the delay in an update.  I keep forgetting to get back here and update the story.

I went to the apartment complex the next day around the time I had given the guy a ride the day before and no one answered.  At that point I kind of decided not to go back, because I realized if he WASN'T all right there wasn't really anything I could do about it at that point.

However, this Saturday I beleive I saw him walking out of a small diner a few blocks from my house, so I think he's ok.