I nearly killed myself…again!
As many of you know, almost four years ago I dropped a tree on my head quite foolishly. I learned some valuable lessons about the fragility of life that day. I am ridiculously blessed to have come away from that incident like I had.
Little did I know that my stupidity would win out again and nearly cost me my life a second time.
By now, I am sure you are asking, “Well? What did you do THIS time?” You wouldn’t be the first person to have asked me that lately. In fact, being the curious buggers that we all are, I’ve been asked MANY times lately the same question. So here goes…
I hit myself with my car.
We’ll give that a second to settle in. No, you didn’t hear that wrong. I really did hit myself with my car. I know your racking your brain trying to figure it out and wondering how on Earth that is possible, but, believe me, it is. Here’s how:
You are trying to disconnect your car from your A Class RV and you need to back up your car to get it off the tow bar because it’s a little stuck. Both feet are outside the car. The driver door is open; you stand facing the car. The car is in reverse, but it’s not budging because your rear wheels are behind a bump in the driveway that’s holding your car in place. You have the brilliant idea to tap the gas with your left foot and then break to get over the bump. You tap too hard. The car jumps. The door hits you, knocking you to the ground. Thankfully you fall away from under the car. Unthankfully, your left foot which hit the gas is stuck in the car. Unfortunately, the car is no longer stuck; it’s freely moving and DRAGGING you with it. You continue to get dragged across the street until the rear wheels hit the neighbor’s curb. This shakes your stuck foot free, but not before the violent movement of hitting the curb contorts your body in unnatural ways and you hear a POP in your leg. Praise be to God. You are now free from the runaway vehicle!
Wait! Did you just say runaway vehicle! Quick! You have to stop the car before it drives itself into your neighbor’s house!!! Adrenaline courses through your whole body! You jump up to your feet. Your left leg does not feel right. Your arms are tore up from the road burn. Who cares! STOP THE CAR! You dash for the door which shut after you got unstuck. You open it, jump in, and slam the breaks! Crisis averted! The car is now parked in the middle of your neighbor’s yard!
…And that is one way someone can hit themselves with their own car.
…And I did that. I can add that to my list of stupid crap I’ve done that nearly killed me!
Now, nearly eight or so weeks from the incident I need to acknowledge My God, my Savior. Pressed by God who necessitates my need to witness, I am now sharing this story with you my reader.
When I was being dragged, I believed that my life was ending. I thought that my life would end by being dragged into my neighbor’s house. The life squeezed out of me between the house and my car like an orange squeezed for its juice! And yet…
God had other plans. I did not meet my end. Rather, I was set free, the shackle on my foot was released.
I know that I was spared by the Grace of God. I know that my guardian angels interceded and saved my life. I also know that St. John Licci, who interceded for me during the tree incident, stepped in to help my guardian angels. So, too, did St. Anthony, our family’s Patron Saint, intercede.
Death’s grip had me, and God released me. Just like He releases us from the bonds of sin. His Blood set us free. We are free to be His people, to walk in His commands, to witness and profess His Goodness to others. I still have more witness to give. More stupid stories where God steps in to save and I relate His Mercy and Goodness and Love.
We Christians serve a living God. One who makes Himself known to us in desperate times, in awe-inspiring times, in the quiet times, and in the utterly-decimating, but humbling times.
I am very thankful to still be here in my mid-thirties and to be a part of my young children’s lives, to be a part of my beautiful wife’s life. I find meaning in my life to guide my children in the way they should go. I find life-giving energy in serving my wife as Christ has laid down His life. I relish being able to witness to friend’s in dark times. I find strength partaking in the Eucharist and knowing that the confessional is always available to reset, refocus, and persevere.
Although the Evil One shackled me to my car, he did not prevail. Just as he does not prevail in shackling me to a life of sin and darkness.
Yes, sometimes I fall. Christ also fell…three times, in fact. Christ himself rose back to his feet, strengthened by His indomitable Will to obey the Father and fulfill His Raison D’être – to conquer Sin and Death – like Christ, I, too, can rise again, pick up my cross, and continue to follow Him. With countless Saints gone before me and countless men and women walking The Way, I can drag my cross behind Christ until that fateful day when I, too, might kiss its roughly-hewn woody surface and breathe my last saying, “Father, into your hands I commend my Spirit.”
Until that day, I serve, I love, I obey.
Seeking Him 