The Non-Accidental Accident

July 30th, 2012. 2 years ago today. A day that will forever change my life.

Have you ever had a life changing event? Something happens to you and as you look back you realize that the impact of that time is still reverberating throughout your life today? Maybe someone passed away or you got a new job or you lost a job or you inherited a sum of money from a rich uncle. Maybe it was the day you got horrible news at the doctor's office or you made a life altering decision to give up a vice in life. I had one of those days. I was in a horrible car accident, but it wasn't accidental. Allow me to explain.

For 7 years I was an account manager and sales executive for a national reference laboratory which required extensive traveling. It was a good job with excellent benefits. We were living the American dream with a mortgage, an SUV and 3 kids. We were serving the Lord, directing a thriving college ministry and being a witness as he led us. And then it happened. The non-accidental accident.

I was on a business trip near Peoria and I was rear-ended. I had stopped on Route 9 waiting to turn left across oncoming traffic and a 20 year old kid who was distracted (!) rear-ended me going about 55 mph. He slammed me across oncoming traffic (praise God I wasn't in a head on collision as well) and down into the ditch on the other side of the road. As I shook off the confusion and exited my vehicle, I ran over and helped him push his totaled vehicle out of the road so that it wouldn't be hit by oncoming traffic. I was running on pure adrenaline at this point and then it hit me. The pain. My neck and left shoulder started to throb and so I just sorta laid down where I was and the ambulance came and put me on a stretcher and I was brought to the hospital. Jenn and the kids came about 2 hours later.

Hannah patting my head.

My left shoulder was 60% torn, requiring an extensive bankart tear repair surgery, a week in the hospital and 9 months of rehab at home and with a physical therapist. My lower back was also injured and I was in physical therapy for about 9 months for that as well. Both of them still bother me frequently. The surgeon told me that I'll 100% have to have a shoulder replacement within the next 20 years. The PA who assisted the surgeon told me afterwards that it was the worst bankart tear he'd seen in 4 years.

Hours of PT at my house using this pulley

But you know what? I'm glad I was in that accident. You see, I wouldn't be where 

I am now without it. We normally don't see the beginning from the end. We try to figure out the will of God, but as a whole, we're not very good at ascertaining it. We aren't called to understand God's will but we are called to believe him for it - to live a life of faith, trusting him with every move we make.

You see, without that accident, I wouldn't have had:
1. Nine months to quietly listen to God every day as he was ordering my steps
2. Met many people during my rehab who I prayed for
3. Sold my house and moved out of my comfort zone
4. Moved in with my mom and really re-reconnect with her (my dad passed away about a month before my accident)
5. Courageously raised financial support and moved 9000 miles to South Africa with Jenn and the kids
6. Spent an awesome 2013-2014 in Africa ministering to countless people who we still love and keep in contact with now
7. Moved back to the States and then moved 800 miles after 3 months to go into full time college ministry at the University of Louisiana.

You can ask questions of God but don't question him. Big difference. Don't for one second think that he has forgotten about you. Don't believe the lie of the enemy that you are alone. He has promised (I'll repeat myself - He has PROMISED) and he has given us HIS WORD and he doesn't lie, to NEVER leave you NOR forsake you. He is always there even if you don't see him with your natural eyes. We can sense him with our spiritual hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit. Did I appreciate all of the pain and suffering my wife and I and the kids endured after the accident? No. Did I choose to have the accident? No. Did I love getting addicted to pain killers and then having to go through counseling to step off of them? (the hardest part of the whole ordeal) No. Has it taught me a 1000 different things and taken me to places I would have never dreamed of? Absolutely. It wasn't an accident. It was a non-accidental accident. God allowed it to happen. I don't understand the will of God but I believe him. I trust him. And I love him. Our lives are in his hands and since he made me and formed me, I suppose he can do with me whatever he chooses.

I'll never be the same and for that, I'm thankful for July 30, 2012 on July 30, 2014.

May you be blessed.