So… this is a first personal blog post about a memory from the past. I may address other memories and experiences in the blog from time to time, as the Spirit moves me 🙂

Many years ago, when I was around 19 years old, I was sitting in my mom and dad’s car, waiting to turn off a busy street in my hometown. I was actually heading to church for a Sunday evening service. The photo used in the header of this post shows the spot where this took place all those years ago. I guess that was about 45 years ago. The timeframe will become more relevant as I continue my story.

There I was, sitting in that old family sedan… dark green, 4-door Plymouth, I think. I don’t recall the specifics. It was a good old car and the primary transportation for the family. Anyway, I was sitting there with a can of NuGrape soda sitting in my lap, waiting to turn. I just happened to glance in the rear-view mirror and in that moment, I knew something bad was about to happen. I saw the front-end of a car just before it hit me. I had no time to react, it was a horrible shock and the next few moments happened so quickly that I was completely taken off guard. I just recall a sense of helplessness and being violently thrown backwards while the car jumped forward.

After the car stopped moving, I realized that I had been hit hard. I was leaning back in the seat and I felt liquid dripping from my face. I freaked out a bit, thinking that I was bleeding. Then, I realized that I could not see well because my glasses were thrown off my face. I also realized that I was way away from the place where I had originally stopped. Later, I was told that my car had been knocked 300′ from the spot where I was hit. I was dazed but tried to open the door to get out and suddenly, a friend from my high school was standing next to the car, telling me to stay put in case I had a back injury. Then another person quickly walked up. It was Tony Reeves, a radio DJ that was in the studio next to where the wreck happened. He mentioned that he heard it even with his headphones on. Tony knew my family and called my dad to let him know what had happened.

As I sat there waiting for help, I discovered that the liquid dripping from my face was the NuGrape – HA, one blessing since I was not bloody, just messy. I found my glasses in the back seat and put them on to better see what was happening. Around this time, I heard a lady behind me talking loudly, saying that I did not use a turn signal. She was trying to deflect from the fact that she rear-ended me at a high speed. When my dad and the police arrived, it was discovered that even though the rear of the car was messed up, the blinker bulb was still blinking away. Imagine that? I should say that my dad was a policeman in our little hometown and the woman who hit me was starting to get belligerent about the whole incident. However, she changed her tune when she found out the car belonged to my dad, and she had injured his son. Yessir, things calmed down and “got real'” at that point.

This is a good place to mention blessing #2… some might even say it was a miracle. When I got hit, traffic was in the opposing lane, heading toward me. The impact caused me to jerk backward, and my feet left the pedals. The car traveled 300′ in a straight line, never going across into the center line. How can that happen? Even though I was injured, it could have been much worse had my car hit another in a head-on collision. So true.

So, what in the world does this have to do with the title of this post, you may ask? Let me tell you. I was quite stunned and a bit numb after the incident and due to the violent nature of the wreck, my dad thought it best to take me to the emergency room to see if my back was OK. I remember the physician on call telling us that every muscle in my back had been stretched and traumatized. Luckily, nothing appeared to be broken. Let me emphasize how hard the woman hit me. The impact caused the bolts holding the front seat to the floor to break off, thus allowing me to be thrown back and the engine was jammed against the firewall of the engine compartment, causing the distributor cap to break in half and effectively totaling the car… when you consider all the damage that was done.

Pain & Perserverance

That wreck caused me to suffer recurring back pain for many years to follow. Some would have sued the other party for all they could get. However, being simple, small-town folks who just wanted to do the right thing. We received a settlement that only covered the cost of the car and my immediate doctor’s bills… not looking ahead at potential pain and anguish, none of that stuff… just covering the immediate need. I only say this to let you know what happened. Over the next several years, I would have two to four occurrences per year of back pain that was typically attributed to bulging disks in my lower back. When this happened, I would often be in pain for three to six weeks. My family doctor would usually prescribe rest, careful movement, and muscle relaxers to help me tough it out.

I recall that one specific time, it was so bad, and I was so frustrated that I got a referral to a specialist for a MRI and consult. I was ready for surgery or whatever was necessary to get things fixed. That doctor told me that the two bulging disks could be fused in an attempt to keep this from happening again… but the probability of it being a lasting fix was 50 / 50. I told him that those odds weren’t good enough to allow him to cut on me, so I left with little hope. What should I have done?

I have known many people in my life that were in similar circumstances and sought relief through drugs and alcohol, but I didn’t go that route. I toughened my resolve and was determined to live as good a life as possible. At that point, I was in my early 30’s and a Christian. I sought God in the situation and looking back, I can see how He was present, even through the pain. I believe that God helped me develop the perseverance to continue and enjoy life. Eventually, after a move into a new home which required a lot of extra physical activity, The back pains started to subside. Around this time, I also got involved in Christian ministry as a staff person at a church. All of these elements together – along with God’s timing – seems to have resolved the issues I had way back then. As I type this message to you, I have not experienced those debilitating back issues for many years. Oh, I get a normal sore back now and then due to extra exertion, but not the bad stuff that I used to experience.

I have served in Christian ministry for 20 years and I believe that God is sovereign and though we only see a small portion of this life, day by day, we must trust that He has a plan for us. That plan may indeed include accidents and pain, but press on brother, sister. Do the best you can to enjoy life and serve the LORD who knows the beginning and the end. He knew that I would recover from the injuries of my youth and live to travel the world in His service. As I wrap up this post, I pray that you can persevere though pain and make a difference in the world. God bless and amen.