When I was about twenty one years old, a high school friend and I decided to drive approximately two hours to Frankenmuth, Michigan for a day of carefree fun.
We never completed our journey, although we almost made it.
She and I made the decision to turn back and visit a Christmas store we had just passed, and then head into the town of Frankenmuth.
There was nothing obstructing my view of the straight stretch of the two lane road on that beautiful day. After looking in both directions and seeing no cars coming, I asked my friend if she saw any cars coming. She didn't, either.
So I pulled out and turned left onto the road, right in the path of an oncoming vehicle. It struck us perpendicular on the passenger side.
It's a miracle any of us lived to tell the story. Neither my friend nor I can tell you what happened at the moment of impact because we never saw the car, and the force of the collision knocked us both out.My car was destroyed. Thank God, from what I was told later, the other driver was not injured. My friend’s collar bone was broken, and I believe that it was broken after being struck by my head. The right half of my head turned blue because of the bruising.
When I came to very shortly after the crash, I was surprised to find myself no longer behind the wheel of the car, and began yelling to my friend in the passenger side to turn off the engine. She regained consciousness, and while trying to assess what had happened, realized that I was no longer sitting next to her. She could hear me but couldn't see me, and so she asked with wonder, "Where are you?"
Somehow, I was sitting in the back directly behind the driver's seat; my shoes were no longer on my feet. I still have no idea how I got back there. The back window had blown out, sending glass flying everywhere, but I was only cut in a few places and needed no stitches.
I got out of the car, not realizing that my shoes were gone because the blow to my head had knocked me somewhat senseless. People came to the scene to help, and instructed me to stop walking in the wreckage. My feet were not cut. TWO OPPOSING FORCES ARE IN PURSUIT OF OUR SOULS
If it is possible for the devil to obstruct our vision I believe he has done it to me twice, both times while on the road, the second time was very recently, and both times it was without a doubt Jesus Himself Who ensured my safety.
My friend and I were taken to a hospital emergency room in Saginaw. After it was determined that I was okay, the good people at the hospital brought me to a waiting room while they tended to my injured friend. Something providential happened not only on the road that day but also in that waiting room, and the memory has remained with me very powerfully to this day.
Those events happened over twenty five years ago, and today in the Lord's most perfect timing, He shared some significant information with me after so many things had to occur first in between.
AN ENCOUNTER WITH COURAGE
I always knew that what happened in the waiting room that day was relevant to the Lord's mission for me. I was sitting in the otherwise empty room when two small black children were led in by a woman who worked at the hospital. She left them there for a while, and the three of us were alone.
The woman told me before she left that the children had been physically abused, and guess what they did. On that incredible day, they ran to the hospital to find help.
What tremendous courage those two little children had. I still admire them, and placed those two children deep into my heart. All I could do for them at the time was to be kind to them and give them some gum.
Today, the Lord said that what happened is a metaphor; we are to run with the same courage as those children to the hospital, HIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, for the help that we need.
We, the Lord's devout faithful, are to be the channels of His love, compassion, and mercy for others.
A REVELATION ABOUT THE CAR
The car that I had all those years ago while in college was a white Chevy Camaro. I had bought it used and absolutely loved that car. It was very beautiful. I never saw another one like it then, nor have I seen one like it to this day. Many people complimented me on that car. It was majestic, powerful and sporty, and in those days I liked driving fast.
This morning, all these years later, the Lord said that it is significant that the car was white.
THE WRONG WEDDING
Next, the Lord revealed that at the time of the car crash I was wedded to that white Camaro; He also showed me that I had chosen it as a means to express myself so that the world would find me beautiful.
The day of the crash the devil tried to claim my life, but instead the Lord claimed the car because He wanted me to be wed to Him instead.
Jesus wants each one of us to wed our souls to Him and to work hard at being holy. Then, when
souls are pure as the car was white, we become the majestic expression of what God is to the world: incredibly loving, merciful, and beautiful.FINALLY WEDDED TO CHRIST
Now my soul is wed to Jesus. My soul is wedded to Jesus during every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass when I receive the Lord during Holy Communion. He outfits me in the most beautiful white garment.
That is what God desires for each precious, immortal soul: our union with Him.
The Lord wants us all to live happily forever after.
Now that my soul is properly wed to Jesus instead of the car, He provides me with the very best parking places.
When He had St. Joseph acquire our family's blue (for our Lady) mini-van in 2007, Jesus requested that the license plate honor Him.
To this day, at His request, that license plate says to all who set eyes on it, ILUVGZS ~ I love Jesus!
Do you?
Sweet Jesus, I promise to love and honor You, all the days of my life. +
© Joseph Karl Publishing/Michele Bondi Bottesi
Images taken at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Slovak Catholic Church,
Sterling Heights, Michigan, U.S.A.
Parish Website
Sterling Heights, Michigan, U.S.A.
Parish Website
Take a VERY POWERFUL and PROFOUNDLY CATHOLIC mini-retreat
from wherever you are!
To access a fishing boatload full of PROFOUNDLY Catholic material
including award-winning books, pictures, articles, audio, and video,
immeasurably and eternally valuable
and FREE, just like God's love,
visit:
www.josephkarlpublishing.com
God is so in love with you!!
THE POWERFUL DEVOTION TO THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS
To learn more about the Work of Reparation through the Devotion to the Holy Face,
which our Lord, Jesus Christ called "the most beautiful work under the sun,"
Please share the information with others.
God is at work in you!!
+ + +
