FREE 2 SPEAK

I’ve heard people talk about having close encounters with death before and I suppose I’ve come close at least once in my life.  When I was about 19 years old, I was in a car accident that left me with half of my hair shaved and 27 stitches in my head.  However, even then I don’t believe I was as afraid as I was when I experienced what can only be called a near death experience, Saturday afternoon.  Returning from a Leadership Greater Jackson retreat, nearly thirty colleagues and I felt the very presence of God carry us to safety.

I remember getting on the bus thinking, “Wow, this is really close.  I shouldn’t sit here”. It was the very first seat on the bus.  I remember even mentioning it out loud.  But, I thought, my new friends are close to me so it’ll all be okay.  I dealt with a feeling of uncertainty and discomfort the entire ride.  I offered my soul solace by reminding myself that I would be the first one off the bus.  Since I was so ready to get home and so ready to see my beloved, I closed my eyes and tried to sleep the entire trip.

Then about 29 miles outside of Jackson, the left front tire blew out.  I thought, “Oh my God, what happening?”  All I could focus on was the driver.  I stared at Howard and prayed for God to guide him.  At first Howard looked to be shocked and I think he panicked a bit.  But shortly after that, I watched as he took complete control of the wheel and lead the bus to the median, all the while saying, and “Hold on everybody”.  Sitting on the seat alone, with no one to block me, I just knew if the bus tumbled over that I’d end up in the laps of the two women adjacent to me.  I really didn’t want them to be hurt and I didn’t want to be hurt myself.  Suddenly, I noticed that there were no screams.  None of the 20 plus passengers screamed.  Clearly, the Lord found a way to comfort us all so that we didn’t scare poor Howard even more than he had already been scared.  I can imagine that if things were any different, we could have been thrown from the bus and killed.

Once we realized that we were safe and as people began to verbally thank God for saving us, all I could do was cry.  I cried because I was happy to be alive.  I cried because I realized what could have been.  I could be gone.  I could never know what it would have felt like to be married; to be a new mother; to be a graduate of LGJ. 

Fortunately, I, alone with all of my colleagues were blessed enough to tell this story.  If there was anyone on that bus who doubted the power of prayer before, surely, it has become obvious to them now. 

To the ladies who sat nearest to me (Christy, Heather, Deidre, Deborah and Susan) who held my hand while I sobbed and offered to take me home; who wiped my tears and asked if I was okay – THANK YOU.  I was unable to formulate any words or thoughts that day, but I heard each of you and I was thinking, “thank you” at the time, I just couldn’t get anything out. 

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!!