Blessings come in all shapes and sizes. Some plain as the
nose on my face, some cleverly disguised. This is one I literally never saw
coming. I was asked to run lights for a symphony performance (a gig paid $100
for four hours) and had left early from home expecting traffic. I was driving
and thinking of dozens of things—was I going to be able to get anything done
during this performance? What did I need to do at work the following day? Who I
needed to catch up with socially, etc. The car in front of me slowed to make a
turn and so I braked as well. Then BAM! The car behind me slammed into me. For
a split second I was scared they were going to plow me right into the turning
car ahead. But thankfully we stopped in time. Dread filled me—what kind of
damage had my car received? I put on my blinker and turned into a business
parking lot, then parked and got out of my car. My heart sank lower when I saw
the girl pull un behind me—the front of her car was completely smashed in.
Headlights were shattered, the hood bent up in an inverted “V.” I walked around
my car and relief washed over me. The only visible damage was some scratched
paint and a hairline crack in the bumper. Thank you God!! I’m telling you, it
was like he put his hand in between my car and hers. When the police showed up
they couldn't believe the difference in damage. Well, I ended up missing the
gig, but I was able to give it to a friend who I knew could use the financial
boost. And because my car was still in good shape I had the emotional wherewithal
to extend sympathy and pity to this poor girl who hit me. Then I went home and
with my extra time was able to catch up with some old friends that I hadn't
talked to in forever! All three things were blessings that far exceeded the
$100 I was supposed to make that night. But that’s not the end of the story.
Her insurance company called me and told me they claimed full financial
responsibility for the damage to my car. They got me an appointment at a shop
close by and they paid for a rental car. So for two days while my car was in
the shop I drove around a Chevrolet 200! I’ll never make enough money to own a
car like that, but let me tell you it was fun driving it around for those two
days. I now have mine back with a new bumper (which is probably the
cleanest part of my car) and I'm still reeling at how amazing this has all turned out. Who knew that I would ever praise God for a car wreck?
