Friday, December 16, 2011

that's not what ships are built for

i could have walked five feet and touched the highway sign. ran my cold fingers along the green metal and traced the I-40 east marker. i was that close when it happened.

my tire blew on the way to work yesterday. just exploded out of nowhere. just a second past the school zone and before the interstate. had i left our house 30 seconds earlier, it would have blown while i was traveling seventy miles per hour, in the middle lane. between truckers and corporate executives barreling down the road on the way to work.

instead, i was thrust onto the grassy shoulder of the country road, my car shaking violently. i managed to stop it. an hour later, it was towed away to the repair shop, and i was safe and warm in robert's van, thanking God for a man who is capable and calm under pressure, an eagle scout if i ever saw one.

but it shook me up. and scared me. and made me take the long way to work today, avoiding the highway. and it had me praying harder and sending more whispered thank yous up to heaven.

because things just happen sometimes. new tires burst. buildings collapse. someone gets a phone call at three in the afternoon that changes his life. we never know what each day holds. what glorious blessings or awful tragedies. but the fear cannot be crippling. it must be the force that propels. that pushes us to love harder and longer. forgive quicker. and think smarter before speaking.

to run headfirst into the burden of chance. the risk of driving down the road or flying in the plane. i'll get back in the highway soon, i'm sure. but for now, i'm enjoying the cornfields and rural neighborhoods that the long way provides. but we weren't made for the harbor, i know that much. we were made for the sail.

15 comments:

Lauren Quinn O'Neill said...

I'm so glad to hear that besides being understandably shaken up, you are okay. It is always unnerving to get a glimpse of the reality that things can truly change in an instant.

jennifer blair said...

I am continually awed by your writing. It is so refreshing. I'm so glad you weren't hurt!

Anonymous said...

Perfect and beautiful. As always. Seriously, you have such a gift with words! The ship in the harbor quote is one of my absolute favorites. So glad that you are okay after your experience yesterday!

~Tiffany
http://tiffanyd22.blogspot.com

Christi said...

Yikes! I am so glad you are okay.

Holli said...

So glad you're ok! I've always feared that.. the blown tire.. so scary!

Gentri said...

I am so so glad you are ok!

Off the Cuff said...

Try to remember the long way is still the sail. So very glad you are safe. So very sorry for the trama.

Dee Paulino said...

I am so glad you are ok.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Valerie said...

i have never heard that ship quote before, but my goodness, what a beautiful sentiment! so glad you are safe and sound.

erika said...

So glad He was there with you.

Joy said...

Moments like yours terrify me and help remind me that everyday is a gift and to always be grateful, even for the small moments in life. God's got you! I'm so glad you're ok!

cara said...

lovely post! i hope you are doing well and having a wonderful holiday season.

xo cara

Mackenzie said...

thanks for your lovely comment. it really warmed my heart. and this post?! ah, you have no idea how much i needed it today. thank you for your lovely words, dear. hope some calmness meets your world soon. xo

charla beth said...

this...is so powerful. a pulling-on-all-my-heart-strings, bringing-tears-to-the-eyes, kind of inspiring.

you said something along those lines, about how ships weren't built for the harbor, in one of the comments you left me. i think about that every single day and this post just so...drives it home. it's amazing how God can take fear and use it to bring perspective and beauty and power.

p.s. i'm so, so glad that you are safe and sound, courtney. <3

Hannah Joy said...

This post is beautiful It's interesting how life can actually teach you the most about life. I found this really inspiring, I read it a few days ago and had to remind myself to go back and comment just to tell you that it's exactly what I needed to hear. And I'm glad that you came out alright from it :)

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