In a Moment

“It’s funny how everything can change in four hours.” This was one of the lines in a TV show I was watching last night. A line I didn’t give much though to at the time.  Seems, we live in ignorance of the fragility of our worlds most of the time.

Take today for example.  A normal Thursday, I woke and taught the kids their school, tossed chicken in the crock-pot and headed to the allergist. Then I was heading to the grocery store and promised the kids I would be home by 3pm to finish the rest of my time oriented day.

The blowing snow was nothing unexpected, due to the extremely cold and snowy winter we had already had. The trip took a few minutes longer than I expected due to everyone driving 20 miles an hour. Glancing at my clock, I knew I had three minutes to be on time.  No worries. I would still make it.

The piles of snow threw me off and I turned into the driveway before my doctor’s office. A truck was coming towards me and I moved off to the left side to let him go past. I turned around in the cul-de-sac and came back up the driveway to make a simple right turn and another right turn into the correct driveway.  As I was turning I saw the white truck turn right in front of me.  As I was looking left to be sure traffic was clear – he started backing toward me.  I laid on the horn, confident he would hear me and stop.  Nope. Impact.  I could hear my poor little car crushing beneath the weight of his truck.

Everything seemed to be in slow motion. I wasn’t sure what to do, having only been in one other accident over 20 years ago.  I rolled my window down and he came over asking if I was ok. I told him I thought I was – just shook up. He said to move the cars off the road to not block traffic.  The next thing that came out of my mouth surprised me. I told him I wasn’t going anywhere and neither was he. The police needed to see he hit me.  It was then he started hitting his truck and swearing.  Shaking, I tried and tried to dial 911.  Funny how that’s such a hard number to call when your fingers are trembling.

In hind sight I probably could have pulled the cars off the road – it would probably be hard for it to be my fault when it was my passenger side of the car that was damaged.

I then tried and tried to call my husband and couldn’t manage to get a call through.  My phone apparently had some kind of emergency lock that was now on because I called 911 and I wasn’t taking time to read the warning to shut it off.  Dumb phone.

The officer arrived and had us pull our cars into the driveway. He then had us get our license and insurance and get into the back of his car, probably because it was -7 windchill.  I’ve never been in the back of a squad car.  When I mention this to my fellow passenger there is silence.  Ok, then.  They don’t give you much leg room.  Nor are there handles on the doors to get out.

The officer asks us for our information, me first, then Jesus.  My kids love that one – Mom was in the back of a police car with Jesus. In more ways than one!  The officer gave me the necessary information and let me go.  He kept Jesus there.  Not sure why.

I arrived late to my doctor’s appointment, and explained what happened.  Because I was so shook up, they had to leave me sit for 20 minutes before they could take my vitals and get started.  I didn’t mind the time to calm down.

When I called my oh-so-funny daughter, she asks if the car is totaled.  I tell her its not.  She asks me how I know its not.  This was in reference to a car accident in college when I wrapped my car around a telephone pole.  When I called my not-yet husband to tell him I totaled my car, his response was “How do you know it’s totaled?”

Thankfully, my now-husband was not traveling, but was close by and able to talk me through the situation with grace and calmness. He was awesome in contacting our insurance and starting the process of getting my car repaired. So thankful for a provider like him.

My mom gave me this verse, Psalms 91:4 “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” So glad Jesus is always with us!  My heart just breaks for the guy who hit me.  To have the name Jesus and then hear such words from his mouth.  Ouch.  I’ve been praying for him.  You say a prayer for him too, okay?  Wouldn’t it be awesome if God uses this for something bigger than you or me?  Jesus needs Jesus!

Thank God for His protection. And I thank God I didn’t bring my daughter with me, we had talked about her coming to my appointment and then going shopping with me.  She would have been in the passenger seat, right where the truck hit.

So, here I sit at 4pm – finally home – without groceries, without a car and with my brain running crazy and not willing to focus on anything I should be doing.  But, I have much to be thankful for. Today was  indeed a glimpse of how fragile life and our schedules really are.

I really thought he would see or hear me, like so many other times in parking lots and such.  The moment would have passed and never been more than an unnoticed moment, one of thousands we have each day.

Prov. 16:9  “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.”

Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.”