Close Call

[V. Hahn]

Not sure where I should post this, but I have a definite "Praise the Lord" experience to share tonight.

This weekend I have been in Tampa for my nephew's graduation from grad school. 

This afternoon there were five us in the car--my brother (driving), my sister-in-law, her mother, my nephew and I.  We were driving on a busy freeway in the right lane, when a large piece of fabric ripped off a semi trailer and flew toward our car.  My brother only had time to slow a little bit and move a little to the right before it hit the car.  Unfortunately there was also a 12-foot-long steel bar attached to the fabric. It hit the hood of the car and smashed, but did not break, the left part of the windshield--on my brother's side. 

We were shaken, but not hurt, and my brother managed to pull over.  My brother and his wife could have been killed by the pole...and the rest of us killed in the resulting accident.

We knew that we had a very close call and prayed in thankfulness for God's protection.

The state trooper took a long time in getting to us.  He had been busy unwrapping the fabric and pole from a freeway sign where it had landed--hanging vertically down in a lane of traffic with the end of the pole embedded in the pavement--stopping traffic for miles.  He told us that two weeks ago a driver had been impaled and killed in a similar accident.  Horrible.

The semi driver had also pulled over.  He was a Cuban immigrant who had rowed three days in a rubber raft to get to Florida and freedom 15 years ago.  He was very apologetic.

So it has been an interesting day...one of thankfulness and not of mourning.  We were truly blessed and are very thankful.

[Larry Lyons]

We can praise God and give thanks for his love, mercy and protection!!

Larry

[Raven]

Pretty scary, and pretty sobering.  It reminds me of 2 encounters I've had with deer leaping in front of me and draping themselves across the windshield.  Why did they not come through the windshield?  Both times the windshield was smashed, but did not cave in.  How many times has God protected us and we haven't even known it?  Every time I hear about an accident, or see one that has occurred on the route I'm traveling, either just before I drove by, or after I passed by, I think about the timing.  Only a few minutes either way could have been the difference between life and death, safety or serious injury.  Those times when we get frustrated because we're not getting away as soon as we had wanted too, may have been God's method of keeping us from being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Yes, we're all thankful that you came through that experience safely.

[V. Hahn]

Thank you, guys!

I used to be an aggressive and impatient driver, until I came to your realization, Raven...that by hitting all those red lights I could be avoiding a serious accident.  From then on I started praising God when I ran late.  "Be thankful for everything!"

As to my wording above..."smashed but did not break."  I should have used your words, Raven--"did not cave in."

[newbie]

we had something very similar happen to us a year ago....  in a winter storm on the tollway late at night an speeds of 55 or more but about 31 degrees and all the snow was quickly turning into slush. A big truck passed us at high speed and a WAVE of slush smashed on our windshield and car... the wipers were no help as this thing was about 4-5 inches thick... we could not see for a long time and my husband just slowed down until we could see....    later on we found that it had broken the seal to the windshield and we had leaks now so I found the spot and ducktaped it.  I mentioned it to a dealer and he called a glass company to see if they could replace it and the man said that when this happens it always brakes the windshield.

Then I knew we were being protected ....  I guess when we get to heaven we will be shown how many times God has sent his angels to protect us....

When these things happen it is very sobering

[Raven]

Thank you, guys!

I used to be an aggressive and impatient driver, until I came to your realization, Raven...that by hitting all those red lights I would avoid a serious accident.  I started praising God when I ran late.  "Be thankful for everything!"

As to my wording above..."smashed but did not break."  I should have used your words, Raven--"did not cave in."

I knew what you meant. 

Good point about the red lights.  I don't think about it much because I usually have only one to deal with on my way to or from work.  It's those slow motor homes and logging trucks that sometimes try my patience.  But the same principle applies.  Being stuck behind them may be God's way of protecting me from harm.