"YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE"

Angels without wings

In the month of January 1959, our family was privileged to experience an extraordinary event, unique and memorable.

As I recall, it was a frigid winter day. We had been visiting Sara’s parents in Queens, and we were planning to return home in mid-afternoon.

A snowfall that had started in the morning continued into the afternoon. The roads had become dangerous and South Brooklyn was quite a distance from North Queens. In spite of the meteorological difficulties, I decided to return home before nightfall.

With the four children comfortably snuggled in the back seat of our “Betsy” (our car’s nickname) and Sara sitting next to me, I began digging the car out of the walls of snow that had gathered around it. It took some hard shoveling and more time than I thought to get the car ready to go. When I started the engine, it sputtered and groaned painfully but, like an obliging friend, “Betsy” began to crawl steadily through the snow.

When we entered the Grand Central Parkway, the road was deserted in both directions. Sara looked at me with pleading eyes, as if to say “Joe, let’s go back to my parents’ place. It doesn’t look good to drive.” I decided to continue, against Sara’s better judgment.

After a few miles, the car felt the strain. At one point, when the car was trying to negotiate a slight incline, it slid to the left side of the road and came to a stop in front of a snowdrift several feet high that was hiding the road divider. Several times, I tried unsuccessfully to move the car backward but the back tires were not interested in moving anywhere, they just kept whining as they spun helplessly on the packed snow.

It was at that point that the reality of my predicament finally seeped into my brain. It was getting darker. A thick fog was enveloping the area. We were the only living beings on the parkway. An eerie, cold silence made the scene appear spooky and unearthly. Sara did not say a word; the expression in her eyes said it all.

Fear and guilt started to grip my mind. I was very responsible for the dangerous situation we were experiencing.

I closed my eyes and lowered my head unto the steering wheel. I began to pray: “Dear God, I know that I am not worthy of your mercy. Please, help us just for the sake of my children and my wife. Amen.”

I hardly finished my prayer when Sara and I heard voices, muffled voices, coming from the back of the car. As I turned, through the fog and the snow flurries, I saw three shadowy figures whispering to one another and moving quickly toward the car.

Within seconds, the three figures took position around the car, with the engine still running, lifted it over the three-foot divider and gently deposited it on the lane leading to the opposite direction. During these brief moments, my heart was racing, my mind felt numb, totally overwhelmed by what I had just witnessed.

They appeared out of nowhere; they did not ask me to stop the engine; they did not ask us to get out of the car; they lifted a car over a three foot barrier with two adults and four children inside, a total weight of no less than three and half tons, urging us, without a word, to return where we had come from.

As I got out of the car to thank them, as Sara had suggested. I saw no one. I walked a few yards up and down still without seeing anyone. I even shouted “Hello!” several times and waited for a response. None came.

As I returned to the car, still running, Sara asked, “Where did the men go?” My answer came out quickly and deliberate, as if someone else had prompted the words “Sara, we have just witnessed a miraculous event. Those three were not men. They were angels!”

Sara listened to my startling conclusion with skepticism. As I started to drive back to Queens, I tried to convince her that my belief was based on sheer logic and common sense. I slowly went through the various steps of the event, what the “men” did, how they did it and how much time they took to accomplish their incredible feat. I emphasized also their sudden appearance right at the end of my prayer, and their immediate disappearance, without waiting for a word of appreciation from us. Human beings just do not behave in such a way.

When we arrived at the house of my in-laws, they were surprised to see us. We told them what had happened on the parkway. Needless to say, my conclusion was received with a great deal of skepticism. Sara, however, convinced by detailed explanations that I gave her, ended up believing with me that we had indeed experienced a supernatural event.

Today, forty-four years later, we still remember those blessed minutes of amazement and wonder, and many of those who listen to our recollection of the event, still rejoice and praise God, as we do, for the wonder of His love and His mercy.