Kept Safe in a Fiery Trial

My husband generally shakes his head at my interest in news of what is happening around the world, understandably, due to the anxiety that it can trigger. I admit that I do agree with him on this, from the point of view, that there is enough to contend with in everyday life with the pressures of family and work. Why add more pressure? As with every family there have been stressful situations that we have faced over the years and my faith has been stretched and tested. Last year proved to be a season of out-of-the-blue health issues, and the years previous involved financial and family struggles. I imagine there will be still more to come in the future, along with many good times. But, coming back to my interest in reading news stories. I have found that even in the midst of challenging reports, there can be treasure to find, stories of hope and light, which help to remind me of the fact that, we are not alone even in the darkest moments.

Warning! This story does recount car accidents and if you could be triggered, please don't read on.

A recent news article told of an amazing incident. A man who was driving his four-wheel drive was side swiped by a car towing a boat. He lost control of his vehicle, and it left the road and flipped a full 360 degrees landing on the fence of someone's property. After checking that he was physically fine he tried the driver’s and passenger’s doors, but they were completely wrecked and inoperable. He managed to get out by climbing into the back seat and exit via a back door. Later, when asked by the police, where the body was, he was able to say to them - that’s me. He went on to say that he realised that he was doomed when the car left the road and all he could do was to fold his arms across his chest and ask Jesus to take the wheel. It was such a wonderful testimony of placing his life in the hands of someone greater when things were the darkest. It brought to mind my own experience from a few years ago...

On the morning of Friday 19th April 2019, I was reading in the book of Hebrews, and a part of one verse was quickened to me. Hebrews 11:34a 'Extinguished the power of raging fire'. The verse refers, as you may be aware, to a beloved story from the book of Daniel. That of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's escape from Nebuchadnezzar's seven times hotter furnace; without harm or even a trace of smoke. At the time I recorded a simple thought in my journal.

Father, I feel faith to believe and trust... What is coming? 

Five days later on Wednesday 24th I was just north of Brisbane, counselling at a local school. As a part of my last session that day, we had used symbols (animals) to depict a young client's strengths. He’d chosen a variety of animals, a lion, a tiger and a few others. It was an encouraging moment working with a young person going through some difficult times. An hour later I'd packed everything into my boot and was driving home southward on the highway. My thoughts were running through the plans for the afternoon. Typical thoughts of a busy mother: remembering to pick my daughter up from school and refreshing my thoughts on what I’d planned for dinner. The minutes of the journey passed quickly with the traffic flowing freely. A huge relief for someone using this road regularly. I merged my car with the steady stream of traffic entering the highway from my left. A little further on I noticed that the traffic ahead appeared to have come to a halt under the upcoming overpass. Assuming that there might have been an accident ahead I slowed my car, pulling up behind a car towing a boat. Because this was an unexpected stop in the flow of traffic, I checked my rear-view mirror to make sure I had plenty of space between me and the car behind. About thirty metres behind and rapidly heading toward me, was a midsized truck.

Knowing how easy it is to be caught unaware when traffic stops unexpectedly, I pumped my brakes a number of times to try to get the driver’s attention. Looking around me for a possible exit I could see that there was bumper to bumper traffic to my right and in front, and a barricade to the left. There was no possible escape for my car! I looked in the mirror again and saw the truck barrelling closer. It had not slowed at all. I knew in that moment that I was going to be hit, and that the truck’s speed was at least ninety kilometres an hour, maybe more. As I braced for impact my only thought was Father, have mercy. There was no way out of this...

Oddly, I had expected to hear a huge metallic crash, but the sound as I recall, was a dull hollow thud, almost like a pop. Modern cars are mostly made of plastic it turns out! The impact pushed my car forward into the trailered boat and at this I blacked out. I’m not sure how long I was out, but I'm assuming it was maybe a minute or two. I came to, still belted in, and facing north into the oncoming traffic. No airbags had deployed as the car was stationary when it was hit. It took a few moments to shake myself into a clear enough state to realise that I was alive and miraculously, not injured. My thoughts went immediately to needing to get out of the car in case there was a fire (not sure if that's a reality or just from the movies I've seen). Nevertheless, I wanted out, and fast! Frustratingly, the driver's door was stuck and for a moment some panic kicked in, but thankfully, as I was trying the door again, a woman arrived to help me get out. She managed to open the door and I stepped out of the car. The true horror of the situation hit me as I surveyed the scene... 

My car was evaporated or more accurately, eviscerated! What had been the boot and back seat was no longer there. The chassis and tops of the wheels were visible, much like a tray-less Ute. The contents of the boot - all of my resources used in my counselling sessions, were strewn southward along the bitumen. The roof, or what was left of it, appeared to be opened up like a sardine can, peeled back and jagged. A walk around revealed that the whole front of the car and passenger side were also completely crumpled. Inside the cabin, the rear seats and the front passenger seat were pushed into the floor spaces in front of them. In fact, everything except the driver’s seat was unrecognisable.

Understandably, the wonderfully helpful woman was very concerned about the possibility of there being children in the car. Uno cards, game pieces, crayons, flashcards, and toy animals (symbols) where scattered along the highway. Curiously, the lion, tiger and other animals used in the session earlier were standing upright on the bitumen as though positioned for a child's game. I reassured her that there were no others in the car, thankfully! As you may do in shock, I walked along the rather apocalyptic looking road, trying to gather my belongings, rang my husband, and organised for our daughter to be picked up. While wandering my way nearer to the place of the offending vehicle a pink object caught my eye. The bag containing my computer (with my counselling notes) was under the tyre of a car. Looking upwards from my bag, I started taking in the reality of the incident. The truck that hit my car was not only a loaded tow truck but, was also towing another car. Astoundingly, my car had been collected by three vehicles at un-braked speed, spearheading it into the trailered boat in front. My computer bag had gone under the truck ending up under the tyre of the vehicle the truck was towing. 

There is no doubt to me - in my moment of desperate need, I had been kept. The attending police and ambulance officers were astounded that I was alive. They, along with many onlookers, could not believe that anyone could survive the impact, let alone walk out without injuries. I was transported to the ER and able to go home later that afternoon. Even more amazingly, there was little damage to the contents of my computer bag and the iPad still works to this day, albeit with a slight red flame-like mark across the screen. It serves to remind me of the fact that I was “in a raging fire but its power was extinguished.” About a month later, we found out through a friend that the truck driver had been on his mobile phone - he was driving at full speed (around one hundred kilometres per hour), and not looking where he was going.

The recount I've just told is a once in a lifetime event and I'm hopeful that it'll never be repeated. The gem I draw from it is the sure and secure knowledge that I am never alone in easy times or in fiery events. I find myself reassured of the presence of one far greater than me. As I draw this to a close, I’m reminded that many things in life are totally out of my control. And I take comfort from the actions of the driver of the four-wheel drive – complete surrender and trust. This is not to say that every person who calls out will avoid all misery, but the One who is merciful will work to bring good from every situation and He will not forsake those who call on Him. Stress and pressure are a part of the world I live in, but as Psalm 138:8 (NKJV) says,

"The LORD will perfect (keep) that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

.... He longs to show mercy, if I will ask Him.