This morning, around 10am, I was helping my friend Rush Stuart with the TV he had just purchased. We were in a very busy section of town, where there are many electronic stores. Many people and cars and motorcycles and buses and three-wheel Asian contraptions were going every which way. People were crossing streets talking on cell phones and carrying obscene amounts of “stuff” everywhere. It was a typical Asian street scene. In a word, chaotic.
After 11 years here, I have gotten used to scenes such as this. Actually, I have become impervious to them. They aren’t stressful or exciting or strange or colorful; they just are. This morning was a scene such as this. A scene I have lived in for much of my last 11 years.
Anyway. . . as Rush and I walked to cross this chaotic street, Rush in back and I in front, we were carrying his new TV to my car. Nothing unusual. Then. . .
Bam! In a split second, everything changed.
Fear electrified my spine, as my eyes quickly fixed upon a car which had taken a sudden turn and was headed directly towards me. There was instant terror as the male driver, probably in his early 30s, had his head down, looking at who knows what as his car, maybe 10 yards in front of me, was not slowing down as it pressed in upon my quickly tensing body.
First thing in my mind; “he doesn’t even know I am here!!!”
Second thing in my mind; “in 5 more yards, jump!”
These two thoughts were racing through my mind as this car with the potential to ruin my day and destroy Rush’s brand new TV was quickly closing in.
In that EXACT moment, the driver’s head shot up, he looked terrified, and his car came to an immediate stop. I didn’t have to jump, but I literally had my hand on his red rood as it came to a final stop.
I was not pleased. I resisted the urge to slam my hand on his hood. Instead I gave him a very, um, stern look as I gathered myself, checked to make sure my shorts were still dry, and stared holes through his equally terrified looking face.
Thinking about this “near death experience”, two principles in life come to mind. The first is practical and the second is more of a “big picture” perspective.
The first principle here is simple. . . when we prepare for unexpected, yet feasible calamity, we have a much better chance of getting through said calamity with little to no damage.
You see, I was able to react immediately with the thought of JUMP simply because I had rehearsed that exact scenario in my head many times over the years. I know this sounds crazy, but in a country such as this, getting hit by a car is a real and present danger pretty much every time you leave your apartment. People are everywhere and so are vehicles of every variety. Moreover, legitimate crosswalks are few and far between. Throw these together and “accidents” are the norm.
I have known several friends to get hit in similar situations. Each time, they had the forethought to jump at the last moment. Instead of being run over, they are merely thrown up on the hood or windshield. Sounds rough, but it really is no big deal most of the time.
Honestly, the driver almost always pays the bigger price, as the victim will usually crush the windshield and walk away with only a few cuts.
Though it would have been a little rough, I honestly think had the car hit me, it would have been of little consequence. He was driving slow. I would have jumped, thrown a shoulder forward, and would have been fine for lunch in two hours.
So the principle here is clear. Preparation pays off. In this case, I had often coached myself for this exact calamitous scenario. Though it did not come to fruition, I do believe had the driver not looked up, I would have been fine. I would have simply jumped, landed on his windshield, and walked away with a new story to tell at dinner parties.
Actually, Rush later joked that he wished the car had hit me. It would have freaked out the irresponsible driver and left him with bill of a damaged car as a reminder. I’m not as vindictive, apparently, as I was just happy to “punish” the guy with the terror I’m sure he experienced from the intimidating scowl I gave him.
The second principle I am thinking about here is regarding the Bible. I see reading the Bible regularly as analogous to this first principle.
Life is filled with ups and downs. Temptations of all kinds lurk around every corner. At the very least, it’s easy to simply allow ourselves to creep into a self-centered, purposeless existence.
The Bible is our ongoing “preparation” for all that life can and will throw at us.
An example of this which has touched me this week has been through the lives of Craig and Tracey Clarke. Since the mid-90s, Craig has studied and lived out the Bible with vigor. Tracey is the same. Their lives took an unexpected turn in July 2011 with Tracey’s diagnosis of glioblastoma. However, their “preparation” for this true calamity was well grounded in their love for and study of the Bible.
If you have not already, read this post Craig wrote on Friday regarding their latest diagnosis. This is a perfect example of the benefits and even necessity of living daily with the Bible as a constant companion.
I wrote this article, 7 reasons I need (and want) to read the Bible daily, as a follow-up to this article.
I am sooo glad you’re ok! AND you are so right, Preparation is critical.
Thanks Vicky. . . just another in a long line of harrowing East Asia experiences!
Thank goodnes you are alright, while reading this blog I thought please don’t let anything happen to my Dear Friend, I have had enouhg drama for one day. My brother found out today he is going to lose his right eye, the Doctor declared him legally blind. With this news Dan could not take any more stress and he tried commiting suicide, but it was not his time. A lady, who we don’t know noticed his car lights on and stopped, rang the door bell to let someone know and no one came so she went to the back and saw him in the car, eyes closed. She got him out, he was clammy and called 911, off to the hospital in the ambulance. God sent her there at the right time, hard to explain but there was an intervention. He is in the hospital and they will send him to a place to be elvauated and he will be there for at least 3 days. He told me he just wanted to go to sleep and forget all his troubles, God is good, he didn’t take him home, it was not his time to go. Oh, I didn’t mean to rattle on but hearing of your accident and my brothers, two people I love dearly was to much for one day. Praying for you and Dan. Hugs!!
Jane, I am so sorry to hear of your brother. It’s been an awful day for you both. I appreciate you letting me know about this, as I am definitely praying for him (and you) now. Please keep me posted on his progress, my friend. Praying. . .
Wow! Glad your are ok..that reminds me of when we first got our bikes and I almost got smashed by a bus!! Although I don’t thinking jumping would have helped me 🙂
Yeah, the bike thing is a different animal. Funny, I was just telling folks about all of our stolen bikes those first few weeks we were at Dianzi. I forgot to mention about your passport!
Great hearing from you!
Haha! Yep mr ma would get so mad at me for not locking my bike! The lost passport was a little scary but a good story now 🙂
If you remember, Pat and I returned to the scene of the crime. We tried to use me as bait, while he stood at the door seeing if someone would steal my unattended bag. No luck, though!
Glad you are alive to tell the story.
With all the madness on the roads in China, you’ll do well if you ever decide to come live or tour Kenya. The madness is the same if not worse.
Thanks Tatuu. . . I hope to make it over there one of these days!
You are most welcome.
Your vertical is so low you would’ve ended up in the grill
Yeah, like that time we were all hanging out in Hong Kong. . . oh wait a minute. . . you weren’t there. I fogot.
“I’m Pat.”
WOW. Glad you’re ok, John! My reaction would’ve been very different (probably would’ve yelled at the guy!)…thanks for sharing your response. Challenges me to prepare…even for DAILY struggles and temptations.
I’m sure you would have been fine. . . good hearing from you!
At the edge of my seat reading your post.
Glad I could keep you suspense. . .
Ask Waddell about being hit by a car near the Panda House. Thanks for the post and the reminder about being prepared.
Will do, Billy. I don’t know that story, but I’m certain I need to if Tim was involved. Either you are on a trip or up really late. . . I hope it is the former!
Your guardian angel is doing a great job, he must love reading your blog, too and wants you to go on writing… 🙂 I am glad you are fine.
I like what you’re saying, I couldn’t agree more with preparation as the key word, especially when it comes to eternal things.
And the Bible as a constant companion, so true, but it does not come easy when there are so many distracting things.
Looking forward for your follow-up on this topic. 🙂
Thanks Iulia! HOPEFULLY I will post it the first of next week. I am traveling this weekend, so might not be able to work on it this week. Hope too, though. Thanks!
Your preparation, the voice of the Holy Spirit and possibly one big, ‘pushy’ angel are the heroes of the day. Glad you are fine though, John. I have never considered preparing for a situation like what you’ve described. Never knew it was possible or necesary, really. How does one do that?
Good thoughts. I guess it’s more I had just practiced that scenario in my head. As you well know, we do a lot of things on this side of the globe that we didn’t think about back in the States.
FIRST!!!!
Dangit!! Kudos Vicky.
No. . . kudos to you, my enthusiastic, yet slow to the punch friend. Kudos to you.
Maybe you should have asked “a guest” to write for this particular web blog. You know, someone with actual experience going through a Chinese guy’s front windshield. But hey, glad the TV didn’t get broken!
Well, I do have a dorky friend named Matt Ashton who once went through a windshield over here. However, he is incredibly uncoordinated, so I don’t think he is a good example.
“The Bible is our ongoing “preparation” for all that life can and will throw at us.”
Could not agree with this more! Interested in hearing your further thoughts/encouragement on the subject. And oh my goodness, what a compelling lead-in to such an imperative principle. Glad you’re ok!
Thanks Emily! I’ll try to get to the post on the Bible by the end of this week.
Thanks for your input here!
Thankful You are OK. We had a storm here last Thurs eve & Jim&I huddled in hall Bathroom. I was in the tub on my knees Praying that God would spare us & those in the path of storm. thankfully all we lost was electric for 23 hrs & just got internet today.
Stay alert over there, We need YOU !!!
I heard about that, Mrs. Clarke, and I’m so happy you guys are ok. Amazing that you guys have now had two pretty big ones hit you guys at that location.
Thanks for the update!