Field Angel

When I was 15 years old, I encountered my guardian angel for the first time. 

It was 1972, only I, sat dangling my legs off the side of the flatbed truck, in a line up of floats inching their way towards the football field as a part of the Homecoming halftime parade. It was loud, the marching band was at full volume. Just as our fully loaded freshman float started to pass through the opened chain link fence, I heard a thunderous roar, “STAND UP!” and what felt like a hurricane level wind beneath me forced my body to standing.

The next sound was an ear piercing screech of metal on metal. I opened my eyes and saw the truck bed wedged against the gate post where my legs had been dangling moments before.

This field angel is in honor of all angels seen and unseen who intersect with our humanity and deliver grace.