Joe Badluck got out of bed on the wrong side every day. If Murphy's Law could apply to anyone, it was him. When his alarm clock sounded off, Joe got up with a shock, rolled out of bed, and fell on the floor. A skinny man with plain features, his clothes never fit him quite right (too tight).

He has a new job and has been warned by his boss about coming in late. He runs to the elevator and finds it is out of order. He runs down three flights of stairs to the parking lot. His 1985 Ford spits and sputters as Joe turns on the ignition. The thing barely accelerates! Joe is going down the highway at 20 miles per hour.

He sees a blue flashing light in his rear view mirror. "Oh no!", he says to himself, "A cop!" He gradually pulls over the vehicle. The policeman says "Good morning." He gives Joe a traffic citation- for driving too slow! After a fifteen minute lecture by the policemen, he lets Joe go.

When Joe arrives at work, he is fifteen minutes late. The boss grabs Joe and pulls him into his office. After being yelled at, the boss fires Joe. Depressed, Joe returns to the parking lot outside his former office and finds his 1985 Ford has been towed away (Joe parked in the Handicapped space).

Joe runs down to the local police station to find out where his car was taken. He trips on the edge of the sidewalk curb and falls hard on the street. An ambulance picks him up and takes him to the nearest hospital- his right leg is broken. He is admitted in the Emergency Room and kept overnight on the orthopedic floor. An angry hospital office employee barges in Joe's room. She asks how is he going to pay for the hospital bill. Joe has no health insurance. She tells him he will probably be sued.

When he is released from the hospital, Joe hobbles down the street - he has a plaster-of-Paris cast on his leg and is leaning on wood crutches. He locates the automobile impound lot where his car was towed and manages to take a city bus to the location. After paying a $75 fine to release his car, Joe is about to drive out of the lot. Then, the car will not start. It turns out that the alternator and starter have both burned out. He has no money for repairs, so he leaves his 1985 Ford in the impound lot and hobbles on his crutches to the nearest bus stop.

Even though his apartment building is five minutes from the lot, the bus takes an hour to get him to the nearest bus stop from his home. How could matters get any worse? He did not have long to find out- a speeding motorist zooms through a water puddle and splashes Joe's only suit.

Joe's future looks hopeless. He manages to hobble in his drenched clothes to the elevator which, once again, is out of order. Joe painfully struggles with his crutches up each step of the stairway all the way up to his third floor apartment. Joe's body is so stiff and in much pain. He is exhausted, as he enters the apartment. Joe puts aside his crutches and falls face down on his bed. It is very hard to undress with the plaster cast on his leg. He is just thinking over and over again how bad his life is.

The next morning, Joe manages to get some casual clothes on himself, grabs his crutches, and hobbles over to the elevator (which is finally operating properly). He exits on the first floor and hobbles to a diner down the street.

After he sits down, he sees a day-old newspaper on his table and looks for the Classified Want Ads to see what jobs are listed. While he is sitting there, minding his own business, he hears someone say "Hello."

Joe looks up from the newspaper and sees a young man, probably in his twenties, standing by Joe's table. "Excuse me." , Joe replies. The young stranger repeats "Hello." Joe asks, "Do know you?"

The stranger answers, "No." and introduces himself as Tim Grover. He proceeds to tell Joe that he was sitting at another table nearby, saw how sad Joe looked, and felt sorry for him. Tim then asked Joe about his spiritual life.

"Spiritual life?", Joe asked. Tim then identifies himself as a born-again Christian and asks Joe what he knows about Jesus. Joe cries how his life is a mess. Tim sympathizes with him and explains the new life Joe can have with Jesus as his Saviour. The conversation ends with Joe praying to God, "If you can change my life, Jesus, I ask you to take control of my life. Amen."

For the first time, Joe feels there is hope for his life. He now knows God is going to watch over him and care for him. Joe's life is different now. Don't get me wrong- accidents still happen to him sometimes; however, he now has a very positive attitude. Joe knows God can get him out of any mess. He has gotten another job and purchased another car- a newer one that works!

He goes to work ten minutes earlier than he did for his former job. His boss kind of likes him (although it is hard to tell with bosses). When the plaster cast is removed from his leg, Joe finds it much more comfortable to walk.

Would you believe it? Joe even has a girlfriend now (before he became a Christian, girls never liked him). Cindy (his girlfriend) is a born again Christian, also, and she purchases a Bible for Joe to read.

What is the moral of this story? If you are a Badluck, like Joe, there is a way to turn your life around for the better. Jesus Christ can be your best friend and change you from a Joe Badluck into a Joe Blessedluck.

The End

Author, Danny Dell
danas@aristotle.net

*The opinions expressed in this testimonial are those of the author, who is solely responsible for content.* Editor, THE EDIFIER