I was on the Houston Police Department, had just been promoted to sergeant, and I was working the night shift. It was about 2:00 a.m. I was on my way to the coffee shop. As I stopped at a red light, I noticed a girl in the car next to me crying. I looked at her for a moment, the light turned green, and I went on my way. I had to get to the coffee shop to meet with some of my men. As I pulled into the café, the girl pulled into the parking lot as well. We both went inside; she went to one side of the building, and I went to sit with my men. We had more important things to talk about. We finished our coffee and the men finished writing their reports, and we were back on the streets.

About two hours later I got a call to make the scene of an accident DOA (dead on arrival). When I arrived at the scene, I found a single car had collided with a telephone pole; there were no skid marks, and one person was in the can The officer making the report came up to me and said, "Sarge, it's the girl from the coffee shop!" I looked inside the car and could see beyond all the blood, he was right; it was her! In my typical Jack Webb voice I said, "Go ahead and make the report and let the medical examiner determine if it was an accident or suicide?' I knew deep in my heart what it was, but I didn't want to admit it, least of all to myself

As I left the scene, I couldn't get that horrible mangled body off my mind. Then it suddenly dawned on me what had happened. God had answered my prayers, and I didn't even notice. There was the soul I had been praying for I had prayed and prayed that God would send me just one soul to teach, and there she was at a red light next to me. And God even made the point more clear as she came to the same coffee shop I was in, and I didn't take time to notice. What a shame, how blind I was, and I'll never get another chance. There is no doubt in my mind that she ran into that telephone pole on purpose. I don't know why; I just know she did. I guess years of experience told me that.

I've often wondered why I didn't go over and at least try to talk to her Why didn't I sit down and give her some hope? Why was I so lost in myself I couldn't see God answering my prayer? I guess I felt His answer would come in a different way, not on duty, not while I was riding around in a police can And yet, there she was, a hurting soul who needed what I had, and I didn't see her for what she was -- an evangelistic chance to share Christ.

This happened some years ago, and for the most part I had forgotten all about it; at least I thought I had. Then just the other day I was studying the story of Zechariah in Luke 1; I'm sure you all remember it. Zechariah had been praying for a son, but after he got well along in age, he just knew God wouldn't answer his prayer, so I guess he kind of gave up hope. As he was in the temple burning incense, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, "Your prayers have been answered?' It couldn't have been more clear to old Zechariah. An angel of God appeared and told him his prayers had been answered and all he could do was stand there in fear and doubt. The fear I can understand, but why did he doubt? I mean he was a priest; he had it all together He prayed all the time. Surely Zechariah wouldn't doubt, but what do we see? Zechariah said, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years?" He doubted! He couldn't believe it! God had answered his prayer, and the answer was right in front of him. We all know because of his lack of faith and doubting mind set, our God caused him to be mute until his son John was born, and then he got his voice back. I guess that goes to show us even righteous men can pray and have their doubts. Even someone who seems to have it all together can doubt.

As I studied this story, I remembered that night so long ago when my God answered my prayers. He didn't strike me mute or even blind that night, yet no one could have been more blind or unable to speak than I was. Did I doubt God would answer my prayers in such a strange way? Did I doubt He would answer my prayers at all? I guess it's a combination of both, and I know that now. As I think back to that night, I guess I've learned a very hard and tragic lesson. God answers our prayers in the strangest ways, and in the strangest places, even at red lights, and we need to wake up and realize this. I only wish I had seen it that night. Maybe, just maybe, I could have shared with that poor girl what she so desperately needed -- CHRIST.

Isn't this what the world needs today? I think we all know the answer, and we have been praying for it, haven't we? The only problem is, have we been blind, and unable to speak? I guess each one of us will have to answer that. We may have our regrets, but God will help us get over our missed chances, even forgive us, and He'll help us go on. One thing about old Zechariah, he was found to be righteous before God, the Scriptures say. That means he was found to be righteous, doubts and all. We may doubt from time to time, but just remember our God will help us to start walking by faith and not by sight. Let's just pray that He will lead us to some soul who needs Christ. Who knows, it may be at a red light or in a coffee shop. It may be a stranger or a friend, but they all need what we have. It's up to us to share it, isn't it? GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS! We just need to open our heart's eyes, so that we can see it. Heart's eyes always seem to have 20/20 vision. Our real eyes just sometimes see the world and all the urgent things and not the IMPORTANT, and the important has always been: "PEOPLE NEED CHRIST?"