I was 21 years old at the time, a junior in college.  The day before, I had gone to pick up my car from being serviced, and when I arrived they had changed my tires without my permission.  I had them change them back, putting my old tires back on the car.  They were not happy.

I was quite the video arcade shark in those days.  There was a video arcade across the street from campus, and I would hang out there when I had an hour to kill between classes.  I could play Centipede for the whole hour on one token, and then let someone in the crowd take over the game so I could go to class.  I was that good.  Always an audience!

There was a guy I often saw there.  Possibly the most physically attractive guy I have ever seen, and always alone.  I told my roommate, who often accompanied me to the arcade, that this guy would be mine.

After a few simple greetings, he asked me out, and I was victoriously elated!  He explained to me that his car was in the shop (missed warning #1), so I was happy to pick him up.  We went dancing at a local club.  He was drinking.  When he returned from the bathroom to find another guy talking with me, he (my date) verbally assaulted the other guy.  (Ignored warning #2.)  By the time we left, I was sure I would not go out with him again and was looking forward to getting back to my dorm.

Unfortunately I would not get back there for several hours.  After we left the club (remember I’m driving), he pulled a gun on me and said I would drive wherever he told me.  He continued to explain to me that the name he gave me was fake, that he didn’t live where I picked him up and didn’t know who did, and that if he had to kill me I wouldn’t be the first.  He told me stories of prison, and stories of what happens to people who don’t do what he wants. 

He and his gun led me down back road after back road for literally hours as I silently thought and prayed, and I had no idea where we were or how to get back.  We ended up in a remote field off a dirt road, far from any sign of civilization.  There was no doubt what he wanted.  

Somehow I found the clarity of mind to try to outsmart him.  “Is that all you wanted?”  I asked him.  Well, why didn’t you say so?  I want it as much as you do, but not here!  Let’s go back to my dorm where we can be comfortable.  My roommate’s away for the weekend.” 

He fell for it.  “You’d better not be playing any kind of trick,” he said, but he guided us back the couple of hours route to campus.   I pulled into campus, drove straight to the campus police station, grabbed the keys from the ignition, and ran for the door, knowing there was a chance I would be shot right then, but at least I’d die in front of the police station, not in a remote field.   As I ran for the door, his angry threats resounded.  “You’re gonna die!  You’re gonna die for this!” 

Terrified, I stayed in the police station until dawn, which was only about 2 hours, and lived the next few weeks terrified to turn every corner and not expecting to live to age 22.

The next day, I was driving near campus and my car started to rattle.  I returned to the shop that had just serviced my car, to find out they had not tightened the lug nuts when I made them put my tires back on.  All four tires were loosely hanging on.  I had driven for hours who knows where with a gun in my side, and my tires could have fallen off at any second.

I never saw  this guy again.  And surprisingly this incident didn’t have much of an impact on my life, once I got over the imminent fear.  I have rarely thought about it over the years.  But I did learn from it:

1.        Our culture (especially our youth culture) puts far too much weight on physical appearance.  The outside wrapping is just paper.  The treasure is what’s inside.  (We all know this, but how many of us practice it?)

2.       As soon as something doesn’t feel right, look for an escape.  Go to the bathroom and call a friend, parent, or police escort to come follow you home.  (Unfortunately there were no cell phones in this day, but I should have found a payphone.) 

3.       Get to know someone before you accept a date alone with him, or before you set out to "catch" him.  Meet for coffee to chat.  Do group things.  If such activities don’t interest him, run away!  Dating a non-Christian, even just for a fun evening, is playing with fire.

4.       The incessant warnings from your parents can be annoying.  Listen to them anyway.  Your parents were your age once, and they understand the dangers better than you do, so far, until you are giving the same warnings to your own children! 

5.       Live in such a way that God doesn’t have to bail you out.  I’m grateful He pulled me out of this one, but I know many other stories that didn’t end happily ever after.   This earthly life comes with no guarantees or extended warranties.  My guarantee that evening was an eternity with Jesus no matter what, but not that I would be alive on earth tomorrow.