Life Lessons

You know you have Cabin Fever when you're looking forward to having
stitches removed.

Two weeks ago, I was in a serious car accident and required eleven
stitches to close my left knee. If that wasn't bad enough, I did muscle
and nerve damage to my left hand and now type with one hand only. I
don't remember anything about the crash. I only know I was hit on the
driver's side by two teenagers in a minivan. After getting a look at my
car, it became painfully obvious (literally) that I am lucky to be
alive.

For two weeks, I spent most of my life on the sofa, watching the "new
war" on CNN, my leg propped up on the coffee table. Autumn is my
favorite time of year, so I found myself gazing out the front door at
the red and orange leaves brilliantly covering my tree-lined street.
Anxious about being cooped up inside, and nervous about what al-Qaeda
had in store next, I felt myself becoming depressed and lonely.

But life is what you make of it. Attitude determines everything. God is
in control. I have wasted much time fearing a psychotic religious
zealot, and what happens? I wreck my car a block from my parents' home,
at a very familiar intersection. The truth is, we face danger every
day, and most of the time, it has nothing to do with terrorism. Should
that reality terrify us so much that we shut down? It very easily
could. Life is a gift. None of us were promised a tomorrow. Who knows
what will befall us tomorrow, or even five minutes from now?

There are people in my life who make me who I am. I have lost friends
because of my own selfish pride, and could not admit my own mistakes. I
have alienated them because I saw their hurts, but did not reach out to
heal them. And if I hurt them, I must have wounded God as well.
Somehow, in my darkest hour, there is always someone to love me, to
pick me up when I fall, to dust me off and keep me moving ahead on the
road of life. I have had more second chances than I am able to count.
I'm sure sometimes I thoroughly deserve a kick in the back of the
knees, but I receive the fullness and richness of God's grace
instead.

When my husband comes home at night, I want to wrap my arms around him
and never let go. When my mother calls, I talk a little longer. I hold
my infant nephew a little tighter. In the aftermath of heartbreak, I
contacted an estranged friend and healed a wounded relationship. I
don't miss the opportunity to say, "I love you" anymore. I struggle to
accept that cars crash, and buildings burn down and planes fall from
the sky. There are people on the other side of this beautiful planet
who don't know me, and yet wish to do me harm. If only some lessons
didn't hurt so much to learn&;#8230;

A few days ago, I was in my father's car, on the way to get those
stitches out. I looked out at the foliage exploding with brilliant
color and for the first time in over a week, I felt peace. While we
wonder about chemical and biological weapons, God continues to do what
He has always done. The seasons continue to change and life continues
to be beautiful, though so uncertain. Six thousand died, and millions
pulled together for a common good. Whether all of us are aware of it or
not, we live under only one promise: God will never leave us or forsake
us. We will need reminders of that Truth as the days go by- I know I
will. But it will never cease to be true. In the meantime, live life
abundantly, and learn to love better. Your heart and way of life are
two things that no evil can steal.

And until the day when evil is banished and peace reigns, there will be
a corner of Heaven set aside for a weeping, mourning Savior.