We left the posh, urban, Portland restaurant where we had spent a few hours giggling and sampling elegant desserts in a tizzy of excitement. We laughingly traversed potholes in patent leather heels and dressy wedges to the safety of our cars. A gaggle of girls celebrating the impending marriage of one of our own. The excitement was palpable. We each delicately piled into one of two cars, taking care not to catch a heel or tear a garment. Earrings glittered, a variety of fragrances perfumed the air. Life was happening, and we relished every bit of it.
I found myself in a car with one of my former high-school friends and a gal I had only just met though she was one of those people whom you meet and feel you have known a lifetime. We would follow the car ahead of us back to the hotel where we were staying the night, and where some of our husbands anxiously awaited our return. We got along famously. The energy of the night bubbled all around us and we conversed in like manner. Our excitement quickly turned to concern when the car we were following zipped out of sight and we missed the exit we were supposed to take. One of the gals nervously called a friend in the other car to retrieve instructions. But the night was dark and we felt we were in a maze in the midst of Portland’s highway hell. “Should I turn here?” Jessica asked. No, I think we should go left, I answered. Truthfully, I had no idea. It was just a gut feeling. Suddenly, the car started to slow down until it eased to a full stop. We were on the most right-hand side of the highway, but there was no shoulder to pull onto. I looked behind me. We were just ahead of a curve in the road, so oncoming drivers did not see us until they were right behind us. I heard a stream of honks as a parade of cars narrowly missed us by as little as ten feet.
One of the girls started crying as the onslaught of potential collisions streamed ever faster. It seemed increasingly inevitable that we would become victims in a fatal way. And so, we prayed. The Lord gave me boldness and faith in that prayer I never knew I had. God, it is not your will for us to die tonight. Give us wisdom to know what to do and keep us safe in the midst of this impossible situation. Protect us from all impending harm and we will put our trust in you. Amen. After I said amen, God gave me clear instructions on what to do. First we called 911 who sent an officer to find us. Then, in the blackness of the night, I spied a patch of land we could safely escape to past the guardrail. Amazingly, we had stopped in the only place with such an area available. For miles ahead and behind us, that side of the highway was nestled directly next to overhanging rock cliffs, which due to their flatness would have been impossible to scale. We scrambled out of the car and hopped over the guard rail. Initially, we stood just a few feet away from the car, but I knew that we needed to get as far away from the car as possible in case of flying debris. So, we moved away as far as we could and waited. An officer came about 30 minutes afterward. 30 minutes. It took him a while to find us because we didn’t know where we were, so we could not give clear directions to the dispatcher. In that time, we saw countless cars come within feet of hitting our car. It seemed impossible that none of them did. But that’s what God does, the impossible. Not only did he save our lives that night, but he kept the car safe as well. He took care of our every need.
Two and a half hours later, the tow truck came. We piled in and huddled together, grateful for the warmth of the cab. Three hours after the ordeal had begun, we met the rest of our party at the hotel and finished celebrating. A feeling of awe swept over me. Here we were, safe and whole, celebrating a wedding when things could have been very different. I can think of one word to describe what had happened. It was a miracle.
God saved my life that night. And he continues to answer my prayers and do the impossible. I would be honored if you would share a testimony of how God has answered one of your prayers! Let’s grow in faith together. ” Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17
Thanks for reading!
Tara
Beauty For Ruins 