Chicago's Blue Line Derails Tonight...

[YesterdayOnceMore]

Wow - tonight, Chicago's Blue Line Elevated "L" Train derailed between the Washington and the Western (I think) stops. Normally, I would have had CNN on shortly after getting home, but tonight, after a conversation with my wife, Ann...I decided to check my e-mail, and perhaps Carpenters Online to see what was happening.....

It was shortly after signing-on that I got a phone call from my mother-in-law...she said something very strange....and asked me if my son, Jonathan, would have any dealings with the blueline L in Chicago...I said "oh sure, Jon rides the blueline to work and home everyday..." long pause...and frankly, I felt a bit irritated. What did she want? Finally, with trepedation in her voice that I could hear, she said something like "....well Tim, I know they were leading people out of the tunnel, through the smoke...see, the train derailed..." Immediately I asked her when...."shortly after 5." Darn...that's WHEN Jon gets on the train. Then I asked her where. She wasn't sure but thought it was around the "Washington stop..." JON BOARDS AT WASHINGTON.

I cut her off, and told her I'd get back to her. I called Jon's cell phone - NO ANSWER - I got his voice mail. DRAT! Panic was quickly setting in......what was going ON???

I was online, so went to CNN - there, it showed a pic of the train, but had very little about it - only that it had derailed, just after the Washington stop (where Jon boards) a few minutes after 5 - (he gets on at about 5:05, daily). Apparently, the last car derailed and immediately filled up with smoke, which then filled the rest of the cars. 76 people were injured. They were led out of the tunnel, along a very narrow path, where the rails are electrified, and ON.......it took over an hour to get everyone up to a spiral staircase to get them out. STILL NO ANSWER ON JON'S PHONE.

We began to check the channels, getting frantic by now.

Finally, around 8, Jon answered his phone. He was on the 95th floor of the John Hancock building, where he'd met some friends who had come into town, however....he was set to board the train...THE train that derailed.

Here's his story - he got off work, and went downstairs to board the train, as he always does, just after 5 p.m. The train actually runs through Jon's building (on Dealy Plaza), at Washington Street. He just goes downstairs and gets on the first train after 5. Tonight, he'd gone down, and PAID HIS $2.00 FARE TO RIDE. HE WAS IN LINE, WAITING FOR THIS PARTICULAR L, just like always. He indicated to us that it seemed to be unusually crowded on the platform. EVEN THE AREA WHERE HE ALWAYS BOARDS THE LAST CAR - the one that derailed. He could see the train coming, but knew that he was supposed to meet up with some friends, and EVEN THOUGH HE'D PAID HIS $2.00 FARE TO RIDE THE L, HE DECIDED NOT TO BOARD THE TRAIN, because if he did get home and his friends were in town, he'd just have to get back on another and go back to the downtown area.

Now, do you think the Holy Spirit was guiding this boy, or WHAT? His mother and I were thrilled to find out he'd wasted this two bucks....and it was literally a last second call, not to ride the L, as he would have, normally.

He met up with his friends, in fact, and when we finally did reach him (since he was on the 95th floor of the Hancock building, and wasn't getting good reception, he wasn't answering his phone, and had no idea there was any trouble down below.) When he called, it sort of freaked him out, because he had been so absolutely close to getting on the train - saw it coming, and made a last second decision not to ride it.

Divine Providence. Thank God that boy turned around and left the platform. My heart was really going.

And it made me stop and think about the fact that our lives are very short, and highly unpredictable.

Please don't take ANYTHING for granted - any of you. And...remember to tell those you love that you love them. Take every single opportunity. Sign your emails with love. Every moment we have together is precious. I'm thankful tonight..and I love you guys. Thanks for letting me ramble a bit, here. I thought you'd enjoy how this one came out.

I wish you all the best from here in my corner,
Tim

[Palma Pascale]

Tonight we all thank the Lord that Jonathan and his loving family were spared the frightening experience in Chicago. We recognize their good fortune, and pray for the others who were not as lucky, as they deal with the aftermath. Tim, we hold you and your family in our collective hug, as I am sure all of us on the Carpenters site consider you part of our extended family. Divine order, and divine timing is something we will never understand, but we are grateful for one more train that passed us by tonight. With Love, Palma

[Rick Henry]

Yes, Tim the Holy Spirit certainly was guiding Jon. God works in miraculous wonderous ways.

You are so right - we just can't take anything for granted. I had a very close call on the road yesterday. A matter of seconds could have changed the whole outcome. I missed being in a horrible accident just by inches. I was shaking for several hours afterward.

Thank you Tim for sharing this story.

[ps11932]

Yes indeed, thank the Lord for watching over Jonathan and changing his plans, and for the fact that there were not more serious injuries yesterday. The mayor says everyone involved in the evacuation deserves prasie and I agree with him- and the Lord sure deserves praise and thanks above all. You all are right, each day is a blessing that we should rejoice in and use to the fullest. No way can we ever imagine how many times we are spared from disaster, without even knowing it.

[Ming]

I agree. We just can't take anything for granted. I always wear my seat belt when I am in a car.

Ming

[ps11932]

You are absolutely right and wise regarding seat belt use, Ming. We would all do well to take as much protective action as possible whether it be while driving, riding, skating, or whatever.

[KCmusician]

Finally a chance to read the whole account here and in addition to thanking God for the guidance, it is very encouraging to hear that Jon was in touch enough to hear that still small voice, even if subconsciously.

Not only did he hear that there was something different in the ol' time-to-go-home routine, but he didn't ignore it. He gave himself permission to do something different this day.

He may call it coincidence. "Synchronicity" comes to mind. That describes when seemingly unrelated incidents occur that turn out to be connected, part of a bigger, unknown picture, a grand plan.
When we don't understand the Divine Laws at work, we call it a Miracle!

Seems like most of each day my efforts are spent letting go of my limited expectations and allowing for a better Divine day to unfold! Jon's experience is a great reminder. Thank God he's safe.

And also to you Rick! During my couple of years living in Orange County, CA, my only mode of transportation was a motorcycle. The average close call was about once a week. Even well-meaning car drivers find it difficult to see motorcyclists, and there were often space cadets on the road. It doesn't matter if it was the car driver's fault in an accident, the motorcyclist still gets creamed. So, it takes intense concentration to drive for yourself and for the other drivers all around you.

Not until living and driving in the LA area did I realize the pace of traffic is very fast, like New York City, only with less honking going on! It often surprised me how 11pm at night the traffic in LA was about the same as rush hour in other cities like Chicago or St. Louis. After riding the cycle about 2000 miles cross country to the midwest and then selling it, my blood pressure went down significantly!

We are the benefactors and indeed fortunate that you escaped that serious accident.

KC Musician

[Dave]

I quit riding motorcycles in 1994, then began again last year.
I never realized how much I missed it until I began riding again.
Every day we have close calls. I'm so very happy that perhaps my guardian angel had another task to perform that day, and that it turned out OK.
Sometimes it's all you can do to say "Thanks, God"