Never Enough Time On My Hands

 

·         1963: Almost falling out a window to driveway 30 feet below, as a 5 year old

·         1967: nearly cutting wrist artery on a broken window

·         1970: ship in storm on sea

·         1975: threatened with handgun

·         1982: nearly drowned parasailing

·         1984: rolled car

·         1988: trapped under canoe

·         1990: vehicle 360 ice slide

·         1992: Lost in Mardi Gras

·         2002: vehicle 360 rain slide

·         2005: motorcycle seat in thunderstorm

The above cited events occurred to me on the approximate dates noted. They all represent situations where someone could die, but obviously not where the death rate is 100%. However, since all occurred to me, and I escaped unscathed in every situation, I think it’s fair to ponder; why?

I realize that the above listed examples are pretty cryptic, so in the immortal words of Luther B. Heggs from The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, "...let me elaborate.": In the 1963 incident, my mom took me along on a visit to one of her friends. I was sitting in a high-back chair, which backed up to a large picture type window. I got up to chase the cat around the room and jumped back into the chair, causing it to tip back against the window, breaking it, and leaving me in the chair leaning out over the driveway 30 feet below; '67 I smashed my hand and wrist through  a storm door window almost severing the vein, which easily could have bled out; '70 being approximately 12 and 10 years old (me the older), my brother and I snuck out on deck of a tourist ship tossing in high seas in the Atlantic and could have easily been swept overboard; '75 I was threatened with a handgun after exchanging words with an angry driver (no, I didn't flip them off or curse them out); '82 boat driver let up dragging me through the water while I was trying to get up on a parasail when they realized my head was under the water; '84 I was driving too fast and rolled my car on a tight curve as it skidded over train tracks and flipped, landing on the roof. Me and my passenger didn't have a scratch; '88 trapped under a canoe that had capsized after getting swept into a fast moving current and stuck against the bank. I was just able to hold my breath long enough to wiggle out against the force of the river; '90 driving approximately 75 mph on the interstate hit an ice patch that sent the car into a 360 spin, but was able to retain control; '92 got lost in New Orleans walking home from  Mardi Gras, later to find out that the area I had gone through was a dangerous neighborhood (oh, by the way, I was extremely drunk), so it was a double miracle that I found my way and didn't get accosted; 02 another 360, but this time in a Florida rainstorm with no damage done; 05 another Florida rainstorm (they can be fierce). I got caught in one riding the  motorcycle I had literally just bought from a private owner. I was on the interstate and a couple hours from home figuring I could ride it out. Well, I made it and could not have been wetter if I had jumped into the Gulf of Mexico with my clothes on. However, upon looking over things I realized the seat was missing the two bolts that hold it on. It was just "sitting" on the frame held in place by my weight. Any dramatic swerving or leaning could have easily sent me flying off.

There are those that say that every time you leave the house it’s a risk. True, but most people, most of the time, leave and come back to their house unscathed. It’s a fair argument to be made that using my examples, someone put in those situations is at great risk of harm or death. If you have any doubts, propose these scenarios to an insurance actuary and  see what your premiums might be!

So, what is to be done with the reality of a dozen potential life-threatening situations that you “walk away from”? The natural response of a Christian is to believe that God was protecting you for a reason. Also, naturally, one would expect that reason/reasons to be, or become, known. However, my situation leads me to conclude that (as in many cases) God may not reveal His plan; even as it concerns us individually. Clearly, (ala Peter Marshall) I wasn’t spared from an early, tragic demise to become a great preacher. But, if any of my mis-haps pre-1994 had resulted in my death I wouldn’t have met my wife, married, and produced two God-fearing children; as important as any calling a man can have. As far as 2002/05 are concerned, there still was much parenting to be done, as my children were still very young. Include interactions with people where you share the gospel and you could find many reasons that God needed you here and not heaven.

To a certain degree, the point is moot. If you’re still drawing breath, then God still has a purpose for you taking up space; whether you realize it or not. Be thankful for every moment we have and don’t fritter away precious time on the silly things of this world (I won’t start listing them or the length of this piece would make War and Peace look like a brochure). As A.W. Tozer said, “When you kill time, remember that it has no resurrection.” I’m convinced God spared me in the afore-mentioned examples; why, I’m not sure, and I’m fine with that. As Tennyson said, “…ours is not to reason why, ours is but to do and die.” What a wonderful credo for a Believer! We do for Christ as the fruits of our conversion demonstrate good works and obedience, and die to this world metaphorically as we separate from temporal concerns, and die physically when our allotted time on this planet has expired.

That's a Wrap

 Recently I had one of those unusual series of events that many Christians would consider "... of God". That can mean many things to many people, but for my purposes we'll use the KISS principle and say that God had His hand in it. Realizing He had his hand in it, and understanding the purpose behind it are two different things (I'll get back to that later).

It was the anniversary of my father's death two years ago January 28, 2020. As is my custom, I wrote a short narrative reflecting memories of dad to share with my brother and sister. This time I recalled time spent with dad and his dad (my grandfather that my siblings never knew well as they are quite a bit younger than me, and granddad died while they were still quite young). As I was remembering events from more than 50 years ago it put me in the mind to know more. Not only to refresh my memory but to learn new things. I was especially interested in the house my dad grew up in that (according to satellite map) may have been still standing in northeast Detroit. The problem was that I couldn't recall the address and wasn't positive that I would even recognize it (I also live five hours away from there). 

The only thing I could think to do was contact my cousin as he was her grandfather on her mother's side and about the only person alive that may be able to shed some light on things. We don't stay in regular contact, but I reached her and found out that the house is still standing and that she has photos and letters that can tell me much about that part of our family history. That isn't really the "weird" part, as much as just typical research. The weird part was the card I received the following day from my uncle in Massachusetts who I had not heard from in more than 10 years. 

Being from my mother's side of the family, I didn't think his correspondence was more than a strange coincidence, occurring so close to when my father died. As I read the card though, it seemed clear to me that more was happening here. In it he revealed that he had been going through some old 8-millimeter film and since much of it consisted of common events he and I were part of (he's only a few years older than me), he converted the film to a USB drive and included it with the card. Again, this is from someone I haven't heard from in years who sent me incredible video capturing family history that I had just recently become interested in. The kicker is that although this is  not the side of the family I was concerned with, the video included images of my cousin, her family, my family, including my grandfather (my only one, as my mom's dad died before I was born), and (totally unexpected as I wouldn't have thought that if it had been caught on film, what are the chances it would be included), a scene of family coming out of my grandfather's house that clearly shows the address! With that, I popped in the address, and there is my father/grandfather's house that I had not been in for more than 50 years. The same house that served as the setting for most of my latest memories of dad that I shared with my brother and sister. Coincidence - I think not.

This brings us back to the purpose (if any) behind all of this. It seems like God had His hand in all of this, but I don't like to trivialize His direct involvement in our lives. I understand that man makes plans, but God directs our paths, but I've never been comfortable with claiming that He controls my every move right down to which shirt I pick out to wear. Somewhere between that belief and being a Deist is where I exist, but I'm starting to get off into the weeds a bit. 

My conclusion is that the purpose was not to just experience a maudlin moment, but to be reinforced in the reality of the brevity and transitory nature of life: a real James 4:14 moment. I've had subtle similar reactions to movies we watch. We like to watch old film noir from the 30's, 40's, and 50's and I'm always struck by how these moments caught on celluloid are just reflections of people and often places that don't exist as such anymore. Such relevant people (movie stars) and places (popular establishments) that are gone forever. Seeing these old home movies brings that reality even closer to home as you actually know the people and have been to the places. It could be pretty depressing if not for a Christian worldview. That worldview tells us not to hold on too tight to things of this world as ultimately, we are going to a far better place.

So, I look on these fond memories as evidence of God's blessing in the past and present. In the past as I experienced happiness then and, in the present, as I can enjoy the happy memories in real time. Most importantly I should learn to cherish each and every second and breath God allows me as someday I will be no more than a memory; perhaps caught on film. As a Christian, I don't believe in ghosts, at least in the typical Hollywood notion of them. However, watching the old family movies with all these two-dimensional, animated facsimiles of people you know creates a ghost-like or ethereal dynamic. Watching as people you knew (perhaps still know, if living) gathered together for a celebration of some sort or just going through daily routines, especially at places you were familiar with (such as homes), 3,4, or even 5 decades ago puts me in a very reflective mood. When these scenes unfold in a house that was our home, reminding me of the human energy of loved ones that once vibrated within those walls, I can't help but feel like our memories still "haunt" the place. When that house has now passed on to other people, it almost seems like an unwelcome intrusion into happy memories. 

But, memories should be no different than anything else when we're told to not cling to tightly to things of this world. And I typically don't. I don't have a high school yearbook anymore, don't listen to oldies music (that I grew up on), don't live and die with the wins or losses of my college alma mater; in short don't dwell too much on the past - good or bad. I believe that's a healthy attitude for anyone, but especially for Christians. For those of us who became "new creatures in Christ" after the age of 20, there is often extra incentive for moving on from your past. It's a little different though when you get "blind-sided" with video memories from decades ago. Although I run those memories through a Christian worldview lens, and as such can find much to lament; I can see God's blessing in hindsight as it pertains to so many warm moments. Viewing them definitely was a bittersweet experience, but I'm glad for it. It was like hearing a wonderful sermon concerning eternity, the preciousness and brevity of life, and God's awesomeness. He stands, the immutable Rock of Ages, while our home movies just keep getting stashed away somewhere as the players move on.