Those were times of turmoil in Sri Lanka where there were many Terrorist problems and uncertainty everywhere. I belonged to the minority group that faced terrible attacks. There was fear in many hearts. During the civil riots in 1958 and also in 1977, many in my community lost their belongings and also their lives. Although the government tried to solve the problems, there was no lasting peace. Terror reigned in many hearts. Poverty and uncertainty added to the existing problems. News of thieves snatching gold chains from young women was fairly frequent. In fact, I heard of a woman whose gold chain was snatched from her neck, very close to where we lived. In spite of that, I wore my gold chain all the time.
One particular afternoon, I had set out to accompany my friend, Lakshmi. She needed to go to an office five miles away. She was very outgoing and full of vitality. She raised her daughter by herself and took care of all her affairs with very little outside help. She was a very independent, self-assured woman who knew how to handle her affairs. While I would have liked to be self-confident like her, I was a timid young woman. She did not need my help, but I needed her help to get out of my comfort zone. But I was like most young women in Sri Lanka, who had the protection of their parents or their husbands. I was a home-bird who felt secure most at home. I would venture out alone, only to places I was familiar with, and always returned home before it got dark, which was around six o’ clock.
That is why I agreed to accompany her to the office. But I was wondering if I could return home before it got dark. Seeing my concern Lakshmi said, “That’s alright. I can go by myself. It may get dark by the time we get back.” She added, “I am used to getting around by myself; but you are not.” I hesitated just for a moment. Then I decided to go with her because I wanted to spend time with her. I thought that we would have time to talk on the bus, at the bus stand, and even in the office.
We finished the work in the office. Then we waited for a bus for quite a long time. It was already getting dark. Once we got into the bus and settled in our seats, Lakshmi said that she would walk with me to my home before proceeding to hers. “It would mean only an extra thirty minutes,” she said. I was aware that she had to take another bus to her home a few miles away from mine. I assured her that I would be fine in. At this time, it was raining heavily. Outwardly I sounded very confident: but inwardly I was full of fear. So Lakshmi continued her journey towards her home, reluctantly.
I stepped out of the bus and sought shelter under the eaves of a small store next to a post office that had closed almost two hours before. I had an umbrella; but the rain was heavy. I saw a few men also waiting for the rain to subside. While I waited I was aware that there were no women or girls around. Of course no women or girls would venture out in the dark by themselves!
I was afraid. I was standing under the shelter of the roof of the small store, looking at the pelting rain. It was eight PM. It continued to rain heavily and it was dark. The awareness that all the stores were closed and that there were very few people on the street added to my fear of darkness that I had always had.
I started praying that the stormy rain would cease, or at least become milder. My little umbrella would have offered no protection for the ten to fifteen minutes’ trek up the hill, to my home. In answer to my prayer, the rain eased a little and I decided to leave.
A part of the road to my house is usually lit by some dim street lights and some light from the buildings nearby. But on that night it was so dark that I could barely see the road because the street lights were not working. But I started walking. Then I noticed that a burly man also started walking in the same direction. I started walking fast. He too seemed to be speeding up. I slackened my speed; he did the same.
About five minutes away the road would branch into two roads; one would lead to my home up the hill and the other, on the right, would lead into a thick forest. The forest had no wild animals. It had monkeys, snakes and birds. People would walk into it only at day time. The thought that I might end up in the forest was terrifying. Nobody would hear me even if I screamed aloud. The raindrops that were falling still would drown my voice and the forest would be too lonely a place for anybody to hear me. Anything could happen. I was petrified.
So I moved to the middle of the road hoping the man would go past me on the side. I prayed softly; I prayed loudly. Nobody would have heard me anyway because the rail drops continued to fall on the umbrella. Nobody except God could hear me. I looked back slowly under the umbrella. The man seemed to be getting closer behind me. I walked as fast as I possibly could, praying all the time. Just then a big ring of bright light appeared in front of me, just about a foot above the ground. I wondered if I would walk through it. But it kept moving in front of me at the same pace as my steps. I looked behind me to see if an oncoming vehicle had caused the light to appear. But I saw none.
I continued praying, wondering at the same time if the man had also seen the bright ring of light. To my great relief, the man overtook me on my left and walked away while I slackened my pace. I breathed a sigh of relief as I continued my prayer. But this time my mouth was filled with praises because my Lord had been my Refuge and Strength and a very present Help in trouble.
As I walked up the hill with my heart full of thanksgiving, I did not even realize when the ring of God’s protection and love disappeared. I continued home in the comforting thoughts that He would always be there, just a prayer away. God is my help and strength, a very present help in trouble.
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