Please bear with me today as I work through a nerve-wracking experience. This post is one way to work through it.
In the culture I live in, “not today” has a casual meaning. It’s said if a person knows that some task should be done, and he or she knows it won’t get done. So, in referring about the situation, the person says “Not today”.
This afternoon I realized a more serious meaning to that phrase.
I almost had a car accident. Had it happened it would have been bad for me and it would have been my fault. I pulled out in front of a large vehicle as I came from a gas station. When I looked, I didn’t see anyone coming. When I looked again, an SUV was just a few feet away from me. Miraculously, both sets of brakes held, I hurried up and went in my lane, and we (both drivers) could resume going where we were going.
I believe God said, “It’s not her time. Not Today.”
“My times are in your hands…” Psalm 31:15 (NIV)
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 (NIV)
Lord, let me not take my life for granted. Help me be ready when it is my time.
Singer Kirk Franklin’s book The Blueprint contained this quote, which dovetails with this meditation:
“There was the car wreck, and the bullet, and the doctor’s diagnosis, and the pink slip at work—these were all things that God spared me from in the past week. Things I wasn’t even aware of. And church is my time to go and be in His presence and thank Him. Even when there are sick, stupid people there who are just as broken as me, church service is my time to be reminded of how good He’s been to me all through the week. Yes, there may have been some bad things that happened, but there were a lot of things that didn’t happen, a lot more bad things that could have happened. So for that I’m going to show my appreciation.” Author Unknown
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” Psalm 115:1 (NIV)
P. Booher
Country Ripples 
You and me both! I was out running this morning and almost got hit by a pickup truck.
We both arrived at a stop sign at the same time, and I signaled my intent to cross in front of him. I thought he saw me, but he took off as I was crossing the intersection. The grill of the guys truck was 3-5 feet away and closing fast. Thank God, he saw me and hit the brakes! It was my fault for not making sure he saw me. Anyway, I’m glad you didn’t have that awful car wreck.
Blessings.
We both have a lot to be thankful for–like the quote above said–the things that didn’t happen! Thank God!
Amen!
I can only imagine how shaken up that experience must have left you and appreciate how you have used it to remind us to be mindful of the time God has given us.
Thank you. Truthfully, I responded better than I would have a couple years ago. Back then, I would have been so shook up, I wouldn’t have been able to write anything at all, and I would have been inwardly beating myself up about it, for days.
You hear of calamities falling on others and wonder why you haven’t been hit that hard. But it’s better to focus on all the good in our lives that God gives us than to worry if bad events will overtake us. I’m very bad a focusing on the good, but I know I should.
I think a lot of us have difficulty focusing on the good. Somehow, the bad seems to scream for attention!
So many times He has spared me! So many times! I know He is in control! Thank you for sharing this.