Thank You, God
As I mentioned, the plans Paul and I had to go to the YMCA were quickly done away with, as we had some problems with the slippery roads. We initially left the house around 7:30 in the morning, and the roads were pretty well untouched, meaning they were left with a layer of snow, causing them to be very slippery. Paul and I pulled out of the driveway and proceeded with caution.
Well, a few minutes into our drive, we were merrily making our way along a quiet, snow-covered country road. All of a sudden, the bed of the truck started fishtailing to the left, to the point where we were perpendicular with the road. Paul was attempting to steer out of it, and we rotated 180 degrees, to the point where we were facing the ditch on the left side of the road, and the tailgate was facing the right.
After a little more steering and skidding, we started sliding towards the right edge of the road, to the point where it was evident that we were about to leave the road and head down the small hill. Thankfully, Paul was able to steer the truck in order to make it so we slid down going forwards, perpendicular to the road, as opposed to having the truck cocked or going sideways or something, which would obviously put us at risk for rolling or landing on the side.
So we ended up coming to rest down in an open field that was approximately eight to 10 feet lower than the road. The field was covered with snow as well, so there wasn’t very good traction. We were having a very difficult time trying to generate enough momentum in order to get the truck out of the little valley we were in in order to ascend the hill and get back on the road.
Paul would try to creep forward a few feet, then as we stopped the forward momentum, he would shift into reverse and go back as far as he could before shifting back and trying the same thing. We were slowly making progress, and after about 15 or 20 minutes, this approach finally worked, and we were able to creep back onto the road, with the two of us and the truck unharmed.
It goes without saying that this was alarming. We weren’t even driving very fast or making any kind of extreme movement, and all of a sudden the truck started sliding out of control. What if there was a car in oncoming traffic? What if there was a big drop-off where we went off the road? What if there was a tree? A mailbox? A house? A person?
Thinking back, if I had to pick a place to go off the road in such a manner, this would really be one of the choice spots. If it happened a little earlier, we would have landed near a bunch of trees in a big ditch. A little bit farther down the road, and we could have easily hit a mailbox, a car, a tree, or have gone sliding (or rolling) down a hill.
As I sit here, safe and sound at my computer, I’m just so grateful that we weren’t hurt. If that had happened somewhere else, on a different road, or even on this same road but with different circumstances, there might have been a serious collision. As we were sliding, we took up the entire road. If there was a car coming the opposite direction, we would have hit, for sure.
I don’t mean to dramatize the whole ordeal, because we did escape without a scratch. At the same time, I realize how something like this could have easily have been a tragedy. What if that happened on a nearby road, where the speed limit is 55 miles per hour and there are often big 18-wheelers whizzing by in oncoming traffic?
It’s just… wow. It really doesn’t take that much for something awful to happen, for a day of joy and celebration to quickly turn into a disaster. In a case like this, it wouldn’t have even taken carelessness or driver error. A simple patch of ice or extra slick spot could have been enough.
You know, the past couple of months in my daily prayer times, one of the things I have been specifically praying for is that God would protect us as we drive. Aside from the incident that Paul and I had, Mark and Jude had a similar instance today where they fishtailed into the other lane. That was not too long after a truck had passed them in that lane. God has protected us. Both of these instances could have led to lots of damage, serious injuries, or even worse.
Thank You, God, for Your protection.