Philip Smith
“No one’s going to believe me when I tell them what just happened. In fact, I can’t believe what I’ve just witnessed. This is unbelievable,” I said under my breath.
I had just pulled out from a gas station off Highway 441 and was about to pull into the road. I didn’t even look to my left and right for oncoming vehicles. I just froze at the stop sign. Across the four-lane, a large Labrador-looking dog was running directly toward the highway.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a pickup truck traveling north at what I would’ve considered a normal speed, maybe 60 mph.
Gazing intently at the dog, as if my deliberate stare would stop him from entering the road, I knew the imminent danger was about to turn tragic. “Don’t do it boy. Don’t run into the road,” I said as I clenched my teeth together.
Just seconds away the truck was quickly approaching. I choked my steering wheel with a fierce grip as every muscle in me winced. I braced for the impact and then it happened. The heartbreaking event became slow motion. Seconds seemed like hours. The driver never had time to brake.
I’m not sure he even saw the dog until impact. But then, reality and normalcy of motion reengaged, or so it seemed. The dog tumbled under the truck and down the road about 40 feet. It looked like a dog turning cartwheels end over end after being thrown from under the truck. But without missing a beat, the dog jumped to its feet, and trotted down a side road to a yard. I watched him for a minute or so to see if he dropped over. Nope, he stood in the yard as if to say, “Mom, I’m home! I’m ok!”
At this point, I was speechless. Still frozen at the stop sign, my clenched teeth had given way to drop jaw. “Oh my!” I’ve never witnessed an animal hit at a high rate of speed, tumble under a car, then jump up with such ease and live to see another day. I can’t believe it. This dog is going to live! You lucky dog!
So what’s the moral of such a story? Good question.
For many folks, the experiences over the last two years are comparable to being hit by a truck. Covid, gas and food prices, death of loved ones, strained relationships with family and friends, inflation … all hitting at the same time? How in the world does one recover from being tumbled down life’s hard, rocky road? How does one respond?
Perhaps we can learn from the ole’ dog – just jump up and keep moving. While some may conclude the dog was just lucky; I think he was just blessed with another day. I also believe one’s faith can be strengthened by realizing that difficult circumstances never take God by surprise.
“Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow…” (Matthew 6:34).