Rob’s passion for cars was deep. Driving was meditative as if he was alone with God. Driving a classic sports car made his heart smile. He loved to buy them and spend hours rebuilding them with new parts. A fresh coat of paint would bring these relics back to life. He had a collection of them, each with a unique story.
He went to a car exhibition and met so many people who shared the same passion. It was a circle of drivers coming together in friendship. At times, they participated in rallies where they’d caravan from one place to another. Other times, they raced their vehicles in ways that demanded utmost accuracy and where every second counted.
When he was 34, he went to a rally in San Luis Obispo on highway 98 with his Jaguar. There were hundreds of cars. He was with his good friends, Walter and Mark. Each driver had a navigator. His navigator was Dan and Walter’s navigator was Tom. They communicated by radio. Rob and Dan were trailing.
“You’re pushing me. You guys go ahead. Remember, this is not a California highway.” Rob pulled off the road and let Walter and Mark pass. He came around a corner before King City.
“You might want to stop here,” Mark radioed.
“Why?”
“Just stop at the cliff.” There was something in Mark’s voice.
“Walter?”
“Yes.”
Rob stopped at the cliff and noticed a skid mark on the road. Looking down, he could see Walter’s car 150 feet down the cliff, flipped over with its wheels in the air. There’s no way he survived this, he thought to himself. They descended down the mountainside, sloped at at 45-degree angle. It was an ugly scene. The windshield had popped off. The two guys in this small space were crumbled. They started digging the earth on the mountain side to be able to open the door. Finally, they were able to open the driver’s door. They looked in. Walter and Tom were packed with their eyes open.
“Get us out of here.” They shouted.
They were alive. It was a miracle. The two men took them out. Tom had a concussion.
“There is a hole in my head.” He spoke.
They took them up the cliff and took Tom to Kings hospital immediately.
“Wait, did you see him?” Walter asked. It was a miracle that he was well.
“Who?”
“The man in the white robe?”
Rob looked around. There were about a dozen of people who had gathered there.
“No, I don’t see a man in a white robe.”
“He was on the highway, long white robe.” He insisted.
“No Walter, I didn’t.” he wondered what his friend had seen, was it his imagination? Yet, he was so certain with his description.
He took Tom to the hospital and he was ok.
Years passed by, the two friends lost track of one another for over 23 years. Rob was at a car expo that a man came to him.
“Rob?” he asked
“Yes, who are you?”
“I’m Walter.”
The friends reconnected and talked for a long time. They had over 20 years to cover. He learned that Walter lives about 3 miles away from him. Walter invited him to his house and they sat down and started talking.
“Did you see the man in white?” Walter said.
After 23 years, it was clear that Walter was still deeply impacted by the vision.
Sharing the story on the phone, Rob said.
“Walter was a successful business man, we reunited after all these years. I met t his wife, an RN, and their two sons and now they come and visit us. He is the only Christian friend I have. Interesting, as I was sharing about him with you, he texted me at 12.52. I will check with him and share a photo of him with you.”
EK, with love 
Translated to German
DER MANN IM WEISSEN GEWAND
Robs Leidenschaft für Autos saß tief. Das Fahren war meditativ, als wäre er allein mit Gott. Das Fahren eines klassischen Sportwagens brachte sein Herz zum Lächeln. Er liebte es, sie zu kaufen und stundenlang mit neuen Teilen wieder aufzubauen. Eine frische Farbe würde diese Relikte wieder zum Leben erwecken. Er hatte eine Sammlung von ihnen, jeweils mit einer einzigartigen Geschichte.
Er ging zu einer Rallye und traf so viele Menschen, die die gleiche Leidenschaft teilten. Es war ein Kreis von Fahrern, die in Freundschaft zusammenkamen. Manchmal nahmen sie an Rallyes teil, zu denen sie mit dem Wohnwagen von einem Ort zum anderen anreisten. In anderen Fällen fuhren sie mit ihren Fahrzeugen auf eine Weise, die äußerste Genauigkeit erforderte und wo jede Sekunde zählte.
Als er 34 Jahre alt war, fuhr er mit seinem Jaguar zu einer Rallye in San Luis Obispo auf dem Highway 98. Es gab Hunderte von Autos. Er war mit seinen guten Freunden Walter und Mark zusammen. Jeder Fahrer hatte einen Navigator. Sein Navigator war Dan und Walters Navigator war Tom. Sie kommunizierten per Radio. Rob und Dan waren Verfolger.
„Ihr bedrängst mich. Überholt doch. Denkt daran, dies ist keine kalifornische Autobahn. “ Rob machte Platz und ließ Walter und Mark passieren. Er kam vor King City um die Ecke.
„Vielleicht sollten wir hier anhalten”, funkelte Mark.
„Warum?”
„Haltet doch einfach an der Klippe an.” Es war etwas in Marks Stimme.
„Walter?”
„Ja.”
Rob hielt an der Klippe an und bemerkte eine Schleudermarke auf der Straße. Als er nach unten schaute, konnte er Walters Auto 150 Fuß die Klippe hinunter sehen, seine Räder drehten sich in der Luft. Auf keinen Fall hat er das überlebt, dachte er bei sich. Sie stiegen an der Bergseite hinunter und waren in einem Winkel von 45 Grad abgestiegen. Es war eine hässliche Szene. Die Windschutzscheibe war abgebrochen. Die beiden Jungs in diesem kleinen Raum waren verdreht. Sie begannen, die Erde auf der Bergseite wegzugragen, um die Tür öffnen zu können.
Schließlich konnten sie die Fahrertür öffnen. Sie schauten hinein. Walter und Tom starten sie mit geöffneten Augen an.
„Bring uns hier raus.” Riefen sie.
Sie lebten. Es war ein Wunder. Die beiden Männer holten sie raus. Tom hatte eine Gehirnerschütterung.
„Es ist ein Loch in meinem Kopf,” sagte er.
Sie holten sie die Klippe hoch und brachten Tom sofort ins Kings Hospital.
„Warte, hast du ihn gesehen?” fragte Walter. Es war ein Wunder, dass es ihm gut ging.
„WEN?”
„Den Mann im weißen Gewand?”
Rob sah sich um. Es gab ungefähr ein Dutzend Menschen, die sich inzwischen dort versammelt hatten.
„Nein, ich sehe keinen Mann in einem weißen Gewand.”
„Er war auf der Autobahn, trug eine lange weiße Robe.” Er bestand darauf.
„Walter, ich habe ihn nicht gesehen.” Er fragte sich, was sein Freund gesehen hatte, entsprang es seiner Vorstellungskraft? Trotzdem war er mit seiner Beschreibung so sicher.
Er brachte Tom ins Krankenhaus und es ging ihm gut.
Die Jahre vergingen, die beiden Freunde verloren sich über 23 Jahre lang aus dem Blick. Rob war auf einer Autoausstellung, als ein Mann zu ihm kam.
„Rob?” fragte er
„Ja, wer bist du?”
„Ich bin Walter.”
Die Freunde haben sich wieder miteinander verbunden und sich lange unterhalten. Sie hatten über 20 Jahre Zeit Revue passieren zu lassen. Er erfuhr, dass Walter etwa 3 Meilen von ihm entfernt lebt. Walter lud ihn zu sich nach Hause ein und sie setzten sich und sie fingen an zu reden.
„Hattest du damals den Mann in Weiß gesehen?” fragte Walter.
Nach 23 Jahren war klar, dass Walter von der Vision immer noch tief beeinflusst wurde.
Rob erzählte die Geschichte am Telefon.
„Walter war ein erfolgreicher Geschäftsmann, wir haben uns nach all den Jahren wiedervereinigt. Ich traf seine Frau, eine pensionierte Krankenschwester und ihre beiden Söhne und jetzt kommen sie und besuchen uns. Er ist der einzige christliche Freund, den ich habe.
Interessant, als ich mit euch über ihn berichte, schrieb er mir um 12.52 Uhr. Ich werde mich bei ihm erkundigen und ein Foto von ihm mit euch teilen. “
Thank you so very much for the translation and sharing this amazing experience with our German speaking friends.
This is a good story but also a bit confusing. Was Walter the man in the white robe implying he was taking the form of Jesus since he’s a Christian? Secondly, if you really want my advice, I think the story can be tightened up quite a bit. Also, avoid the verb “to be” as much as possible in favor of action verbs which are much more effective.
Dear Marcia, thank you for sharing your reflection. Rob shared the story. I wrote as I heard it. I did not speak with Walter. My assumption is that he saw a man at the top of the cliff in white robe. To me, he was watched over. The fact that they were ok was a miracle.
Beautiful
There are no coincidences in life
Understanding the deeper meaning of life’s experiences takes a willing heart to go within. Thank you for sharing your reflection my soul sister.
Our minds limit what we see and hear. However, there are times when cognition is blanked out, especially during exceptionally upsetting events when the deeper member of our brain is able to be free and what we see and hear is at times cosmic. We carry within ourselves such an amazing capability that is all too often harnessed to the limitations of our culture. Man in a White Robe, a being that is our friend and is present in times of need. This Man goes by many names yet is always The One.
Thank you Jonathan, your reflections are always uplifting and soothing to the soul.
I’ve read through this 3 times. Each time feels more peaceful. I wish I had words to describe the uplifting emotion each time I read Man in a White Robe.
Thank you Barbara for sharing your reflection. Words can not truly describe the inner experience.
It is a calming story even in a dangerous situation there is a calming presence. Thanks for the story.
I just love it.
Many years ago at the time I had 3 children ages 4 and under, a knock at the door. A man young and looked like he was able to work. Asking for water. I can give him some water. Mind you we I was having trouble making ends meet. I thought I can share some milk in a paper cup. He looked really hungry. I can make him a baloney sandwich. I was the cheapest cut at rye store. All this time my babies where at the door entertained with the young man. I give him the food. He thanked me. I turned to quiet the children when I looked back he was gone. Our house was in the middle of the block. I walked to the sidewalk and nothing. He could not have made it to the corner that quickly. I would like to think I was visited by an angel
Diana
Xoxoxo