-The Drowning Man-

A man was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to God for help. Soon, a man in a rowboat came by, and the fellow shouted to the man on the roof, “Jump in, I can save you.” The stranded fellow shouted back, “No, it’s OK, I’m praying to God, and he is going to save me.”

So the rowboat went on.

Then a motorboat came by. “The fellow in the motorboat shouted, “Jump in, I can save you.” To this, the stranded man said, “No thanks, I’m praying to God, and he is going to save me. I have faith.”

So the motorboat went on.

Then a helicopter came by, and the pilot shouted down, “Grab this rope, and I will lift you to safety.” To this, the stranded man again replied, “No thanks, I’m praying to God, and he is going to save me. I have faith.”

So the helicopter reluctantly flew away.

***

On August 5, 2002, I began working for a well-known financial firm that offered an amazing perk. By staying focused and hitting certain goals, the company would cover travel expenses for my spouse and me twice a year, with a wide range of destinations to choose from around the world. In the summer of 2004, I earned my first trip, and we picked Lucerne, Switzerland. After that came Bermuda, then Rome.

In early 2008, we jumped at the chance to visit Valencia, Spain, during the first week of August. We’d be spending time on a beautiful Spanish beach, marking the 6th anniversary of my time with the firm.

Unfortunately, in June of that year, our marriage unexpectedly descended into chaos, and we were forced to cancel the trip.

In 2009, our biannual trips continued, taking us to places like Scotland, Vienna, Hawaii, Paris, and London, but never to Spain. Then, in 2014, 6 years after we’d last had to cancel, Barcelona finally made the list, and we locked in our spot for the only time available, early August.

Unfortunately, in June of that year, a family member became terminally ill, and we were forced to cancel the trip.

In 2015, our biannual trips continued, taking us to places like Alaska, the Caribbean, Sweden, Denmark, and Romania, but never to Spain. Then, in 2020, 6 years after we’d last had to cancel, Madrid again made the list and, with some trepidation, we locked in our spot for the only week available, wait for it, the first week of August.

Unfortunately, in June of that year, COVID struck, and the firm cancelled the trip.

I retired in 2021, and since then, we’ve taken countless trips across America, mostly driving and towing various types of RVs. We even went backpacking through northern Italy, but Spain still hasn’t happened for us. Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be—or at least that’s what the universe seems to think.

Then, in 2026, six years after our last planned trip to Spain was canceled, our second-oldest daughter announced she had booked a family trip to Barcelona during the second week of August and asked us to join them. I slumped down in my chair and exhaled heavily. What was I to do?

Was this an Il Segno Di Dio moment, a sign from God? Three times we’ve tried, and three times we’ve failed, each cancellation brought on by some form of tragedy or misfortune. And then there’s that number 6—my first Spain opportunity would come 6 years after I started, then resurface every 6 years after that. June, the 6th month, brings the bad news, while August marks both when I began and when every trip is oddly available. Is Spain closed for the rest of the year?

***

Soon, the water rose above the rooftop, and the man drowned. He went to Heaven. He finally got his chance to discuss this whole situation with God, at which point he exclaimed, “I had faith in you, but you didn’t save me; you let me drown. I don’t understand why!”

To this, God replied, “I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect me to do?”

Is God trying to communicate with me like He did with the man who died in the flood? It seems clear to me that, for whatever reason, one or both of us was not meant to go to Spain. Is this a ridiculous thought or a reasonable conclusion? I guess it ultimately comes down to one question: What do you believe? If we were to take this trip and something terrible happened, I can easily imagine God saying to me, “Really, Michael? Wasn’t three times enough to get the message?”