James was a devout fine young Christian man who loved everyone,and everyone loved him in return.He traveled quite a bit for the large Automotive company where he had been employed for the past twelve years.His wife did not particularly care for all the extensive traveling.

The Lord had blessed James with blessing abundant.A new home,a beautiful loving wife who adored him,a precious baby daughter who was the spitting image of him,a great career as Design Engineer,and a hefty salary to boot.He found out that day that he had to go out of town again that very afternoon.This trip was to Alabama,but he didn’t mind,he was used to it,and enjoyed traveling.Though he longed for his wife and baby to be with him,he would soon be home again as this was only an overnight stay.

He pulled into a truck stop after bidding his wife  farewell,and kissing his baby daughter to gas up for the long trip ahead.Plus he wanted to get him a bite to eat,he didn’t realize just how hungry he really was he had been so busy!That is when he noticed him for the first time,this elderly gentleman.

This gentleman was tall,way too thin for his build,wearing no coat and it was only twenty three degrees outside and beginning to spit fine snow!He had thick gray hair,warm blue eyes,and seemed so lost,so out of place.He looked very sad as he stood there outside the small restaurant drinking coffee in the bitter cold,and watching the big rigs roll in.

‘Jame’s heart went out to him immediately as he wondered when the poor fellow had ate his last meal.So James invited the gentleman to come and eat with him.The stranger couldn’t thank him enough for his kind offer,but refused to eat as they sit down at the small table.During their conversation he informed James that he was going to try to get him a ride to Alabama with one of the truck drivers who might be headed that way.Jame’s eyes got big as he told the man that was exactly where he was headed!James offered him a ride,and told him he would gladly drop him off,it was only the next town up from where James was going anyway!What a coincidence!

James gave him a coat,telling him he knew it wasn’t much really,just an old work coat but would keep him warm.James witnessed to him about the Lord the entire trip.At one point the man broke out in tears,and told James “You truly are a man of God,Bless you!”

Upon reaching his destination,the stranger told James,he said”You can just let me out right here at the bottom of the hill here,I will walk on up.”James assured him that he didn’t mind to drive him on up the winding,rather steep driveway to the large house he could see atop the hill.But the man insisted he would walk.James bid him farewell,and proceeded to turn the car around,but as he looked over his shoulder to turn,he realized the man was no where in sight!

He would not have had time to get but a few feet away from the car,where did he go?He had completely vanished as if into thin air!It bothered James so much in fact that he immediately drove up the long winding drive to the huge house on top of the hill,that he had only barely caught a glimpse of from below.The house was very old and abandoned!The windows were all boarded up,and it looked as thought he very roof of the structure itself would collapse at any moment.

There was no sign of the stranger he had just spent fourteen hours with!