He vowed to change but for the first time in his life he was at a loss. He felt like his life was spinning out of control and he couldn’t do anything to stop it. He had always been able to fix every problem and rise to every occasion to meet any challenge, especially in his marriage, yet now he felt truly powerless. As if his life was being lived by someone else while he watched it unravel. That night he had yelled to the heavens asking for help and had woken up with a flat tire. Some help, he thought. Just one more problem I don’t need right now.

George walked briskly hoping to get home in time to read the kids a book. It was one of the few things he enjoyed doing and it was something they loved as well. Whenever he was working in his home office, they would always come in and say it was time for him to read a book, which he always did. His two kids were his driving force. He loved his family and he wanted to be able to provide for them and give them everything he had never had. They had a beautiful home. The school district was one of the best in the state and the children thrived. He and his wife drove new cars and did their best to keep up with the Joneses, the Smiths, and whoever else they were supposed to keep up with. Yet with this family also came great pressure and responsibility. Work hadn’t been going so well and his last review was very troubling. His team was in disarray. Their productivity was in the toilet and George had been told that if he didn’t get it together, he would be replaced. For the first time in his life his job was in serious jeopardy.

So as George walked, he thought of his family, his wife’s ultimatum, and his job. He was in danger of losing it all, and the car problem was the final straw. Something good has to be coming my way, he thought. It can’t continue like this or else I’m done. “My life wasn’t always like this!” he shouted to the stars. “I was a young go-getter once. Everyone talked about my great potential. I was a rising star in my company. My future was bright. I squeezed the juice out of life. Now I can’t even get my hands on a piece of fruit. I can’t take this anymore!” he yelled. “Please help me!” he shouted as he looked up to the moonlit sky.

The air was silent and George heard nothing except the sound of his own breath. He was waiting for something. A word, a sound, a bolt of lightning. He wasn’t sure what but something.