Count Your Blessings

It's so easy in life to give up, be negative, and wish we could turn back time...

Yesterday, I was feeling fearful, frustrated, and frenzied as I left campus to "exercise my civic duty". When I got to the polling place, I was re-routed to a nearby elementary school that was in my precinct. Thinking I knew where it was, as I had walked by there many times before, I did not get clear directions. I became increasingly frustrated as I realized I was wasting precious study time, and that by the time I got to the polls, a long line would await me. I circled the neighborhood several times, but knew that I needed directions to get there. I called my sister, but her internet was down, so she couldn't help. I told her it was no big deal, laughed it off, and decided to try to find a convenience store and ask for directions. I restarted my car and eased out of the residential area I had been parked in. But I was too early. I put on the gas as I was closing my cell phone with my right hand. The next instant, I looked up and realized that I was on a very narrow street with a wide car and way too close to the car on the left. BOOOOOOOOOM! I just knew I had destroyed the parked car. My heart raising, I got out of my vehicle, still idling. A closeby neighbor had witnessed the incident and said "Bummer". Yes, bummer. Luckily, I had only ripped off the car's side view mirror, not demolished the door or anything. I left a note with my name and number on it secured in the mirror itself, and when I went back to my car, I had identical damage on the passenger's side. I called my sister, who convinced me to go back home, call my insurance company, and not worry about voting- Texas would carry McCain. And it did.

I could wallow in regret and anger toward myself for my carelessness and hurriedness. But instead, I look past this relatively small incident with insight into the future. Okay, so my insurance premium may go up slightly. Bummer. But this incident was a wakeup call that I have been developing unsafe driving patterns when I'm not actually on highways and busy streets. I have been feeling way too "safe" pulling out of parking lots, going down residential streets, and such. Although these situations may not demand as much concentration, they still demand focus and attention on the road. One split second is long enough for something to go awry.

So instead of looking at the inconvenience, the bad side of this, I thank God. I thank him that that side view mirror was not a child that I would not have seen until it was too late. Mirrors can be replaced, people can't. This incident may have occurred in order to remind me to slow down, pay attention, never be in a hurry. If I had continued developing poor driving patterns, my very life or others may have been in jeopardy. This incident was a gentle nudge from God to protect me from harm in the future.

I take several things from this happening. 1) I am a person who easily feels overwhelmed and becomes distracted. But I must set my emotions aside when I step into the driver's seat. I cannot drive emotionally. 2) Am I really saving time if something does happen on the road? 3) All driving, whether it is in a parking lot, on a residential street, or access road, requires my undivided attention. 4) I am blessed.

My disappointment over the driving incident was, of course, magnified with Obama's landslide victory. I do fear for our country, and I am gravely saddened by the reality that pro-life legislation may not see the light of day for at least four more years. This is truly a man with a hardened heart toward the unborn, as his voting record has shown. How can we as a nation speak about "hope and change" when we've mercilessly slaughtered at least a fourth of our nation under the protection of the federal law? It's barbarism.

But once again, I realize that God is in control. And even though I can't see or understand His plan in its entirety, I know that He will work something through this presidency in order to bring about good.