On Monday we drove from Klamath Falls to North San Juan, CA. It is a small town 30 minutes north of Grass Valley, my “home town.” I wrote this journal entry on Tuesday morning.

December 22, 2009

Thank you Father, you have preserved my life, and the lives of my wife and son.

You are worthy of praise, adoration…. of my life. You have rescued me, and redeemed me for your purposes for another day. Perhaps for 50 more years. May I not take for granted this life.

A long day’s drive. A good dinner with Turkey soup, salad, wine. A dark and rain drenched road. More miles to come. Miles to go before I sleep.

We had just left Alan’s grandmother’s home in North San Juan, and were headed for Carol’s parents home 2 and a half hours south. I had driven this road several times before, but not in the past 10 years. The car behind me had caught me, and he knew the road, perhaps I should let him lead the way. Or just speed up a little.

I didn’t see the stop sign approaching. Carol didn’t either. Finally, it clicked that we were approaching the intersection of State Hwy 49. Brakes. I needed brakes. There weren’t any, or at least not much on this slick pavement. I took my foot off the pedal and jabbed it again and again. I remembered how earlier I had noticed the orange “plus” sign indicating that Tyler Foote crossed Hwy 49, it was not a tee intersection! I looked to see where the road exited the intersection so as to avoid missing it and sliding into a ditch. It would not be imperative to turn onto 49 at a high rate of speed, I could just go straight, if I could avoid the cross traffic. If they could avoid me!

I saw the lights from the south, but it was too late to do anything about them. They would have to use evasive action. As I slid into the intersection, those lights veered and went behind me. I don’t know how close, but I knew that it was way too close. Sliding onto 49 I saw that I could make the turn to the south and did so without breaking traction. No cars from the north. There was another car stopped from the south. Did he see the impending collision and stop, or was he already stopped for another reason? I didn’t stop to ask.

The car that had missed me did not stop, His brake lights faded to tail lights and he continued to his destination. I never did stop for that stop sign. But now I was really awake. Totally, vividly awake. Carol, Alan and I spoke of how we had a near death experience. We were thankful that our angels were alert. We were thankful that God had spared our lives. We were not deserving of more life, but God in His providence had granted yet more life! He had more purposes for us to fulfill, and forgiveness that extended to my actions, even beyond my ability to ask.

I told Alan that he almost met God that night. He could have requested to see His video library. He could check out Noah’s flood, David and Goliath! … or perhaps even the video of our near miss.

Thank you Father! You have given us life. More than we deserve, more than we even experience. I do want to experience all that you have for me. Open my eyes! Keep me alert. I know that your angels are surrounding me, protecting me, and even providing opportunities for service. If. If I am alert. Alert enough to see what you are up to. Keep me alert.

Thank you for your prayers! They are effective! Carol and I are in Buckhorn, CA at her parents home for the next few days. Then to my brother Tom’s in Penn Valley. He will take us to San Francisco on New Year’s Eve for our flight to Yangon, Myanmar.

We hope to be able to update regularly from there.

God bless you and yours!
Merry Christmas
Fred and Carol