Experiences vary in the impact they have on our outlook toward life. Recently, Chris and I had one that dramatically influenced us emotionally and spiritually.
On Saturday morning, February 11, we were on our way to Cranbury to pick up our nephew and take him to his hockey game. It had been snowing lightly, but certainly did not seem to be dangerous driving conditions. As we came up a slight incline on Washington Crossing Road, we hit a patch of ice and the car started to swerve. I tried to regain control, but nothing I did helped.
The car spun so that we were facing the opposite direction and slid sideways, heading toward a telephone pole at about 45 miles an hour. These were surreal moments in which events were both instantaneous and in slow motion at the same time. We were totally helpless in doing anything about our impending collision with the pole, which would have struck on Chris's side first. We were convinced that this was it for both of us and said goodbye, and gave in to our ultimate destiny.
We were within inches of impact when suddenly our car flipped over and spun around again, coming to a stop on the shoulder of the road, leaving us hanging upside down, suspended by our seatbelts. We checked in with each other: "You okay?" "Yeah, I'm okay. You okay?" "Yeah."
Below us was glass everywhere from a shattered windshield and broken passenger side window (Chris broke it with her elbow on which she had recently had surgery), but we were unharmed, me still wearing my glasses as if nothing had happened.
The next car that happened by was that of an EMT who was on his way to pick up bagels. He stopped and helped us out of the car, as we exited dazed and amazed at the same time.
We have replayed that event a hundred times over in our minds and hearts. How did all of that happen and why did we survive and what does it mean? This much I can tell you: The emotional trauma has somewhat dissipated, but we are still sorting things out and don't hesitate to give thanks every day. It truthfully has made us reevaluate our lives, adding a new intention for living more fully. What that means, I suppose we will discover in time. There is one more emotion that remains a bit on the mystical side of things which is perhaps best described as surrender--surrendering to the flow of life's own rhythm.
Suffice it to say that it's a shame that it takes trauma to make us appreciate being alive.
Holy cow -- I'd had NO idea this had happened. In the right hands, this could trigger the birth of a new theology. :)
ReplyDelete(In the wrong hands, of course, it could've turned into a story about the bathroom break one or both of you should have taken before leaving.)
By the way, having thought some more about the above comment: I was just joking throughout. But this was a genuinely scarifying story, with a genuinely Jack-and-Chris-worthy ending I was very moved to read.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't had a chance to talk to you about this when last we met. I knew in general terms what happened, but not the extent nor the the moments leading up to or even after. I'm so glad you were both okay and so very grateful for the grace-filled being who was with you throughout. Life affirming, yet life altering. Moments that turn on a dime. Life is so precious, it's hard to remember that sometimes. Thanks.
ReplyDelete