Ice and Angels

"Don't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly!" Ever heard that one? As a teen, I really should have had that quote stuck to my dashboard. Instead, I had a little picture of Jesus taped there. Seriously. I took a lot of chances and it was a way of trying to keep my driving in check. It worked... sometimes.

Lucas, since I have known him, has always been steady and sure in everything, including his driving. Needless to say, when he called to tell me the truck had rolled, I knew he wasn't kidding. By the time the kids and I arrived on the scene, the Chevy had been towed away. Our empty trailer that had been hooked to the truck sat crooked and forlorn on the side of the road. Lucas's neck was sore, so we had the hospital check it out. He looked no worse for the wear, but as we sat there, he spit out a few gravel sized pieces of glass! After a cat scan and x-ray, everything looked good, and we headed happily home. They told him not to worry. If he'd inadvertently snacked on the windshield, it would, well, eventually pass.

The next day, Lucas and I went to the towing place to collect our personal effects from the vehicle. I have to admit, I was shocked Lucas had not been injured. Windows were broken, a bumper hung crazily, side view mirrors hung by wires, doors were either stuck shut or opened with herculean effort, and to top it all off, the roof caved in the middle to where the rear view mirror touched the dashboard! Poor Lucas, peppered with questions by an anxious wife, patiently answered each one.

"What Happened?" Lucas was returning home from what he hoped was his last time hauling construction waste from Greene Acres to the dump/recycling center. Driving home on a road notoriously known for accidents, he hit a slushy patch with ice underneath. The trailer did a little dance, and the truck, good partner that it was, decided to join in. Lucas doesn't like to dance. The truck proceeded to Dukes of Hazard off a snowbank, and rolled completely over in the ditch. The trailer had enough of that, and tried to let go, but was still connected by way of safety chains.

"What was going through your mind?" Practical man that he is, Lucas said his first thought was, "I hope I don't hit a tree!"

Then, after crawling out the window of a truck laying sideways, he thought, "Man, I hope somebody comes along soon. My wife has the cell phone."

Somebody did. An "angel" in a pickup stopped, let Lucas use his phone, and chatted it up while encouraging Lucas to sit in the cab to keep warm until I got there. A sheriff on the scene took one look at the road and decided he knew just exactly how this accident happened. Shortly thereafter the road was plowed and salted again.

What do I think? I think God knows we need Lucas. He is the rock of our family and the best part of me. I think Lucas, Seth, Micah, and I are a lot more thankful for God's protection. AND I think there is one husband who is going to get some much needed spoiling for a long, long time!