Well, yesterday little did I know that when I woke up to drive to work it would be my last time driving my little Mustang. A 40 year old lady (who had 2 accidents within the 8 months of her being liscensed) ran out in front of me as I was just minding my business driving down Pine Grove. We both ended up walking away with no injuries. Both air bags were deployed and there I sat in the middle of the street with my baby totalled. I just got off the phone with the Body Shop and they are suggesting that I just write the car off because it is going to cost atleast 3600 dollars to fix.
In these things we often wonder, why? Why didnt I just push the snooze button one more time. Especially when you don't have "Collision" on your car insurance living in a no-fault insurance state. Basically, I am out 4000 dollars, the value of my car. After the impact and as the air bags were deflating I just sat there stunned and remember turning down my worship tunes, and saying, "Thankyou Lord." It's funny, my mom taught me to do this when I was just a little boy. No matter what happens in life always stop and thank God. So, from the days of delivering newspapers and wiping out on my bike watching Saturday Morning papers fly all accross my customers lawn, to sitting yesterday in the middle of traffic with my totalled car, I remembered to thank the Lord.
I'm one of those guys that believe that everything happens for a reason. I guess my theology helped me even in my car crash yesterday. I remembered that there just may be a Sovereign God behind every car accident. I remembered that the lady that pulled out in front of me may have been sent my way to witness to her. Who knows? I just knew yesterday that I wanted to past the test.
As the fire trucks left the scene, and the police officer took down our information I got talking with the lady that hit me. She told me she was so sorry for doing this to my nice car. I told her that it was just a car and that I was glad that we were both okay. (Inside, I felt every emotion you would... trust me) I asked her what she did for a living, and she told me she was a student and a mother of 3 children. After small talk, I asked her if she was a Christian. She told me that she didnt have a good experience with Church people. I told her that I was sorry to hear that but could sympathize with her. I asked her if I could pray with her and thank the Lord for protecting the both of us. She, probably feeling guilty for totalling my car, agreed, and we both bowed our heads and began to pray. After we prayed I invited her to Colonial Woods, where I am a pastor. She told me that she just might check it out.
In all of this, I am still out 4000 dollars. There is no way of getting around this. But one thing that is more important than 4000 dollars is the glory and renown of Jesus Christ. I pray that he was glorified in the totaling of my mustang! If it cost me my baby red mustang to give her a clear picture of Christ and his Church than so be it.
Two verses stuck out to me in all of this. May they be an encouragement to you:
James 1:2-3 "Consider it pure Joy my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, for you know the testing of your faith develops perserverance."
1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink (or get in a car accident)or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
