Rideshare Experiences in NYC

When I first thought of writing this blog, I had thought I would be blasting the rideshare companies with a blanket conclusion. 

Fortunately it hasn’t been as bad lately but it has taken a while to get here. 

Let me just state this in the beginning. This is New York City.  They drive crazy here. It’s like nowhere else and that isn’t a compliment. So why would I expect rideshare drivers to be any different?

Over the past three months, we have had to go into the city three times a weekend for medical appointments.  The only viable option was to use rideshare services to get to and from the appointments.  Medical issues made it too risky to take the subway. 

When we started, we used Lyft.  Nearly every drive seemed to be intent on driving as fast as they possibly could.  It was the fast and the furious on 99% of the rides.  Many ignored our requests to slow down and to be mindful of the medical issues of their passenger.  One even laughed.  Most could barely understand English.  After several bad experiences, we thought that paying for an higher level ride and getting bigger vehicles would make the rides less stressful and chaotic.  It did not.  Lyft is a joke.  Their comfort level service is a ripoff.  Drivers get around the requirements by making their vehicles to appear to qualify as higher level vehicles.  One thing they do to qualify for more legroom is to slide the front passenger seat all the way forward.  

We abandoned Lyft and decided to try their competition.  

Uber was an improvement but we still had issues in communicating with drivers about our unique situation and medical issues.  We decided to try their upper level Uber Black service. We also began including a note requesting a particular route to avoid the highway and the medical issue which requires them to drive calmly.  Apparently this had worked better.  It seems the note before the driver arrives translate it so they can understand.  It has been better and drivers have been more attentive to how they are driving.  

The other service we have tried is Blacklane.  Blacklane is a chauffeur service. Very high end and expensive.  I surprised my wife with this one day.  It was the best service but it also cost as much as two Uber Black rides. I would choose Blacklane all the time if we could afford it.  

Honestly, the most stressful part of our trips to the hospital have been the rides.  This is ridiculous and it is sad we have had to pay more to get rides that safely accommodate someone with medical issues. The rides to/from medical appointments shouldn't even be a thought compared to the appointment itself.

In case you wondered - no, insurance does not pay for these rides.  There are also other services that transport people to medical appointments are unfriendly and unreliable. Do you want to put up with that kind of service with a bunch of other sick people around you? You would think someone would offer a service to provide safe and stress free transportation for patients. At least give a discount if the trip is for medical reasons.

Yes, I have reached out to the rideshare companies but have received no response.

Best rideshare experience:  Blacklane

Worst rideshare experience:  Lyft Comfort

Biggest problem:  Language/communication 

You may also wonder why I wouldn't just drive us. Are you kidding me? By the time you add up gas, parking, congestion fees and tolls, it would cost about as much. Not to mention the added stress of driving.

For now, we are going to continue using Uber Black service.

 

Can Prayer Really Change Things?

I have heard the claim made that “prayer changes things”. While that cliche sounds good and can be motivation in prayer, it isn’t a guarantee. Sometimes prayer doesn’t change things. In fact, sometimes things get worse.

I don’t know how I can deal with that.

So can we change God’s mind?

There are several examples in the Bible when prayer changed God’s mind.

Moses and the Golden Calf (Exodus 32:7-14)
After the Israelites created a golden calf to worship, God’s anger burned hot, and He intended to destroy them and start over with Moses. Moses pleaded with God to remember His covenant promises and spare the people. Consequently, the text states that the Lord "changed His mind" and withheld the threatened destruction.

Hezekiah’s Extended Life (2 Kings 20:1-6)
The prophet Isaiah told King Hezekiah to get his affairs in order because he was terminally ill and would die. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed with bitter weeping, asking God to remember his faithfulness. Before Isaiah had even left the courtyard, God sent him back to tell Hezekiah that He had heard his prayers, seen his tears, and would add 15 years to his life.

Abraham and Sodom (Genesis 18:22-33)
God revealed His plan to judge the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for their extreme wickedness. Abraham interceded, persistently negotiating with God to spare the cities if a certain number of righteous people could be found. God agreed to lower the threshold of righteous individuals with each prayer from Abraham, ultimately agreeing to spare the region for just 10 righteous people.

The Repentance of Nineveh (Jonah 3:10)
God told the prophet Jonah to warn the wicked city of Nineveh that it would be overthrown in 40 days. The king and the people of Nineveh responded by repenting, fasting, and praying. Seeing their change of heart, God "relented" (or changed His intended course of action) and did not bring the destruction upon them.

David and the Plague (2 Samuel 24:10-25)
After King David sinned by holding an illegal census, God sent a plague upon Israel. Following David’s deep repentance and prayers for mercy, coupled with his obedience in building an altar and offering sacrifices, God "relented" and stopped the plague before it reached Jerusalem.

Yes, the Bible teaches that prayer changes things. Throughout Scripture, God invites people to bring their requests to Him, promising that He hears them and responds. Prayer is portrayed not merely as a ritual, but as an active conversation that influences circumstances, brings healing, and shifts the course of events.

The concept that prayer has a direct impact on outcomes is supported by several key biblical principles:

Prayer impacts circumstances: In ⁠James 5:16, it says, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." The Bible also provides stories of prayer changing situations, such as when Moses interceded for the Israelites and God relented from a planned disaster (Exodus 32:14).

Asking brings results: Jesus encouraged His followers to ask, seek, and knock, assuring them that their Heavenly Father will give good gifts to those who ask Him (Matthew 7:7-11).

Prayer changes hearts and minds: Often, the "change" that happens through prayer is in the perspective of the person praying or in the wills of the people involved. Through prayer, God grants peace and aligns human desires with His perfect will (Philippians 4:6-7).

Aligned with God's will: The effectiveness of prayer is tied to God's ultimate purposes. Believers are encouraged to pray according to His will (1 John 5:14-15), trusting that a sovereign God uses prayer to accomplish His goals and bring about what is good.

While there are times that prayer doesn't change things, we can't give up trying to do what we know we can do.  We may not control the ultimate results but we can appeal to a loving God that will hear us.  We are supposed to bring our concerns to Him and share our heart with Him.  If prayer is the only thing we can do, we have actually done everything that we can do.

When You Need A Miracle

We pray for miracles. We wait - many times impatiently - for our prayers to be answered. We are painfully aware that sometimes the miracle doesn't come.

I believe in miracles. I believe in praying for miracles. Many people don't.

I'm in a place right now that I am waiting for the miracle. It's a whole lot easier to believe in miracles when you don't need one.

I have heard the sermons about healing, stories of miracles and claims people make about God answering prayers. Believing is hard especially when you are in the place where you can't see it. I don't see it. Honestly my belief is being put to the test. Will my God deliver? Am I believing foolishly in a miracle?

I have come to understand that I have absolutely no control over this. I can't make God do a darn thing. I can't make any deals or manipulate Him into answering my prayers in the way I want them to be answered.

Do I even know HOW to pray? I will be honest and say I have had that question in my head. All of my years in church and believing, am I even praying right?

In addition to that...I also ask the question: Who am I? I am a nobody in this world of billions of people. Why would God hear my prayers? I'm not anybody special. I'm not a preacher or any spiritual leader in anything.

I'm just floundering a bit right now. I'm worried the miracle won't come. It's hard to stay positive when others around you don't believe.

God can do whatever He wants to do however He wants to do it. So this is where we are. What does God what to do here? I can only do what I can do and just leave the rest up to God.

I find myself praying and pleading with God but does it matter? Has the ending already been decided whether I pray or not. It is a difficult place when you are standing in the fiery furnace of your life.

As painful as it is for me, I have to release the need for control. I have to acknowledge my human limitations and knowing that I can't script the outcome. It is completely normal to struggle with God's will when it conflicts with your own hopes.

When we are in the place where we need a miracle, we have to try to find that resolve that God knows what He is doing even if we don't agree. It's not an easy place to be in but we can only do what we can do and leave the results to Him.