It came out of no where.
Actually, no. I saw it coming.
He didn’t stop, and followed his friend…and just didn’t stop.
I tried to stop, damn it. I couldn’t in time. And I knew it.
I would have hit him, so I turned my wheel to go around him.
But that didn’t work.
I swerved and spun.
And swooshed in front of a group of five or six cars.
I missed them.
God, how did I miss them?
And then She (my car) slid up a curb and landed on an embankment.
Facing the other direction.
And I’m alive.
Tonight I should have died.
God could have taken my life this evening.
But He gave it back to me instead.
GOD GAVE ME BACK MY LIFE.
I’m still processing how profound that is, this whole 8 second experience.
In 8 seconds–actually if the 8 seconds were 3 seconds later–I could have died.
Tonight.
I should have plowed into at least five other cars.
But didn’t.
I don’t understand it.
I guess I don’t need to understand it.
All I need to understand is that God gave me back my life tonight.
And in my numbness, in my white-faced, dumbstruck numbness I don’t know what to do
or how to react
or how to be
or feel
or think
The only thing I can think to do is to cry
and hand my life back to Him.
But even that seems silly….
Tonight I should have died.
And for the first time, ever,
I thanked God that I am alive.
I thanked God
that I am
alive.
I’m still alive
and I don’t know what to do…
-jeremy
Technorati Tags: accidents, car accidents, death, life, tragedy
i am so glad you are ok.
on october 27th while i sat obliviously in church my stepdad pulled out of my mom’s driveway (back in michigan) and was tboned by two kids coming over the hill going 55mph (it’s a blind turn out of the driveway). anyway it totaled the car; the only part not smashed in was the drivers seat. the truck that hit him crashed directly behind the drivers seat and then the truck spun.
he walked away with only bruises.
very recently i have heard of two other near death experiences also dealing with close calls in auto accidents.
all of this makes me think about a few christmases ago. I was stuck on the runway of a packed jumbo jet. All of the planes were backed up because the runway was icy. One by one, they all took off, and finally we also took off too.
It was really amazing to be able to watch so many planes take off in such terrible weather without incident. I remember thinking about God then, about what a miracle it is that so much that could go wrong most of the time just doesn’t happen.
i am glad you are unharmed.
take care of yourself.
His mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness!
We’re so glad you are alive! God is good.
Wow Jeremy!!!! I’m so thankful you are okay! Oh my word. Isn’t it amazing how experiences like this put everything into perspective?
Thank you for sharing this part of your life with us. This is a beautiful piece of writing, and I’d love to hear the full story next time we get to chat.
How can we pray for you? How’s your car?
~Chris
Having just driven over 1200 miles I am amazed, too, by the unseen angels riding our fenders and bumpers.
Jeremy,
You just can’t die. Not yet. I am just getting to know you! I am thankful that God preserved your life. See you soon.
Shalom from L’viv, Ukraine,
John
Hey folks!
Thanks for your kind words and well-wishes; I feel so loved 🙂
It’s an interesting thing what a near-death experience does to you, and I hope I get to share some of that over the next few weeks.
But what I do want to say is this: value life, folks. And value the life of those lives who are in yours. Because it can be taken away so quickly…
thanks again 🙂
-jeremy
Hey Jeremy:
Call me! What happened??
Barry
Jeremy,
I was just surfing in to say “Happy Thanksgiving” and find this post…! O.M.G. Angels, indeed. I’m so glad you’re OK!
I’m liking your paper btw, what of it I’ve been able to read so far. What class is it for? I’ll probably be doing my Church History paper on the origins of Lindisfarne over the holiday weekend…
If you have a minute pop on over for a Thanksgiving greeting. Happy Turkey-Day to you and yours!
Peg
Wow, I’m glad you are okay. These things change people. I wonder how it will change you?