After a long week, I was ready to go back to campus and spend an evening to just relax with my friends. With almost no homework, I planned on going to the gym and finally using a rare moment of “free time” to play with a basketball. If anything could have gone wrong, it did. As I was sitting in the back seat of the car with four other students from HBBC, I was complaining about everything that had been going on. Jack, who was in the front seat directly in front of me, got the brunt of it. His phone battery was dead however that did not stop me from sending whiny text messages on the way. Getting closer to “home”, we had just taken the exit off the highway, however we jumped a median and I looked up from watching the Starfighter on the GPS screen to see what was going on. I assumed we had taken an awkward turn off the exit ramp or something, however a dead stare from the driver after repeated requests for response proved otherwise. After that we were heading nowhere fast. Speeding up, we ran off the road, jumping a curb, hitting a yield sign and running directly into a light pole. The light pole landed directly above where jack and I were sitting, crushing the top and shattering the back window on top of me, but that did nearly nothing to stop us. The ride was not complete until we continued a little further and ran into a tree. All of which happened in the matter of seconds. Once we realized what was happening, it was too late. I was not afraid of dying, I was afraid of living. I felt the glass shattering on me, the intensity of impact, and heard the screams of the passengers. As we came to a stop, the scene felt surreal. The headlights bouncing from the tree causes an eerie glow among the fogginess that was filling the car. I heard hissing, smelled gas, and could barely see from the smoke; all I could think was to get everyone out of the car are soon as possible in fear of the car catching fire. No one moved, so I started yelling. My glasses had flown off, so I grabbed them and my phone before I hastily unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the door. Still disoriented, shaking, and attempting to get a grasp on reality, the cool air was a smack in the face to begin to bring me back. However, Jack could not figure out how to open the door. So I yelled all the more. All I could picture was me out of the car, him in the car, and a fire. So many thoughts and decisions flooded my mind. Once we all were out of the car, I still saw Lucas in the front seat. He was still unconscious even after all my yelling – how? I don’t know. My heightened tone of voice then went to Jack to get Lucas out. Opening the door, unbuckling the seat belt, and physically dragging him out, Lucas began to come back around.
Taking my phone, I called 911. The person whom is most directionally challenged of the group called 911 to attempt to describe to them where we were. After describing the accident, “I need to speak to an adult” was what I was told. Irritated, and mockingly repeating her voice out of the speakers range (not the proper response, I know), I handed the phone to someone else. Only then did I realize how bad my hand was throbbing as blood filled my hand. The blood was dripping onto my skirt and I began to worry about having to get it out. I am a realistic person, after all. A couple Heartland students were there right away. First responders, and the Deans shortly arrived as well. I had already freaked out and started crying at which point Jack sat me down, calmed me down, and together we praised the Lord for keeping us safe. I was completely good at that point and thought the whole adventure was amazing. Aside from my injuries, bruising and minor whiplash, everyone was perfectly safe next to a totaled car. I realize it is never good to dwell on the “what if”. However in this case they only prove how incredible our God is. So many things could have gone slightly different and we would have been gone. If we were in a smaller or newer car, it would not have held up in the way this one did. The pole would have crushed the top completely directly over the right side of the car where Jack and I were sitting. If it had happened just a couple seconds earlier, we would have still been on the freeway and could have either involved other vehicles and/ or driven off the side of the bridge. Neither of which would have been good. It was a huge reminder that whether it is “little” or “extreme”. Whether good, or bad, He has His hand in my life. He is in control. And even in really bad situations, we are actually completely safe under the protection of our Heavenly Father who takes care of His children. We were completely safe that night because we were under the control of His hand. Nothing could have hurt us that He did not allow and would not have taught us something important, or given us an opportunity to glorify Him. Every little thing I had been whining about faded into the background and meant nothing. Everyone was safe, everyone was alive, and no one was badly injured. The important things became the important things and I was reminded in a very real and vivid way that He is in control. That night greatly emphasized where my attitude had been and quickly and effectively corrected the issue.
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Lizzy parkerMarriage.
Motherhood. Ministry. Missions. Archives
January 2023
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