About a month ago I was in my home town hanging out with an old friend from high school. We had gone off to see her new apartment and talk, but the time was going fast and I was obligated to return to my parents house in time for dinner. It was dark as we approached the house and we noticed a mass in the middle of the street ahead. We could make out the shapes of human beings moving around and the uncertain of what we were looking at made us very nervous. My initial thought was that there were thugs up to no good, as is sometimes the case. As we got closer, however, we realized that what were looking at was the bottom side of a sudan. The next thought, naturally, was of my parents and siblings, and I wondered if it was them. It was only after I saw my mom in the yard on the phone that I felt a measure of relief. Soon there after, the police arrived on the scene.
I ran to the lone vehicle as soon as we pulled to a stop. Confused as to how something like this might have happened, I fought back calculations and the desire to figure out the cause and sought to make sure the vehicle was empty and the passengers were safe. Thankfully, the couple in the vehicle made it out alive and, as far as I know, the yet-to-be-born child is still growing strong, but there is nothing like a car flipped over to set one to thinking about the fragility of life. I was incredibly frustrated by my inability to do more than look inside the vehicle. I would have gone to comfort the man and woman that survived the traumatic event, but I was prevented by my inability to speak Spanish.
To this day, I cannot conclude the how in their car being upside down, but I am able to recognize the severity of such an event and the reality that the couple are blessed to have walked away without major injury.
What made this even scarier was it being on the small street that marks the boundaries of my childhood home. Literally yards away from my driveway! Had I made it home 3 min soon er I might have witnessed the entirety of the event myself, or worse.
Life is too short to live in fear. Bad things happen in the most obscure places and no matter how much precaution one takes, there is always risk of injury or pain. This is true on an emotional level as much a physical one. While "living for the moment" is not a Biblical perspective of living, it is important to recognize the beauty of the present and appreciate every minute we are given.
Grace and Peace,
Stephen
To this day, I cannot conclude the how in their car being upside down, but I am able to recognize the severity of such an event and the reality that the couple are blessed to have walked away without major injury.
What made this even scarier was it being on the small street that marks the boundaries of my childhood home. Literally yards away from my driveway! Had I made it home 3 min soon er I might have witnessed the entirety of the event myself, or worse.
Life is too short to live in fear. Bad things happen in the most obscure places and no matter how much precaution one takes, there is always risk of injury or pain. This is true on an emotional level as much a physical one. While "living for the moment" is not a Biblical perspective of living, it is important to recognize the beauty of the present and appreciate every minute we are given.
Grace and Peace,
Stephen
