Semi-Wreck

I was in an accident not long ago and, thanks be to Hashem, nobody was injured.

I was driving on a narrow winding mountain road with my mom and son in the car. As we came to an uphill “hairpin” turn a truck came down the hill with a “wide load” sign on his truck – meaning there was something coming down the hill behind him that came close to or exceeded the width of their lane.

Normally this would not be an issue but at this particular point in the road it is hard for the regular size downhill directed vehicles to stay in their lane. I knew there was no way a “wide load” would make that turn without being significantly into my lane.

Just then I saw it – a semi-truck with a long trailer hauling a tree cutting machine that hung off the trailer’s sides a good 18”. If I kept going into the curve, even if I stayed where I was, that machine was going to center punch my Tahoe.

I put my vehicle in reverse and started driving backwards as fast as I could without looking back (thankfully no other vehicles had come up behind me). When it was evident that I wouldn’t get out of the way fast enough I hit my brakes and as I watched the big machine swing close I braced for impact.  It was slow motion right up until the actual impact.

The sound was deafening as the tracks on the tree cutting machine collided with the front of my vehicle and dragged down the side. We sat there. Then backed up into a siding to inspect damage and exchange information.

I was shocked at what I saw. A bit of damage to the side of the bumper, side mirror gone, a minor scratch on the fender and the door and a rub on the tire. Turning I took a good look at the machine that hit us – how was that minor damage even possible? That machines tracks were deep metal teeth made for traversing the mountainside. Those tracks had come in direct contact with my vehicle at considerable speed. Not only were none of us hurt, except for the missing mirror you might not even notice the other damage on my obviously-not-new but not in horrible shape vehicle.

The natural law of things would state that a collision between that machine, going downhill at that speed, and my vehicle should have resulted in the front end of my vehicle being totaled, my airbags should have been deployed, and heaven-forbid, there could have very likely been injuries.

I watched as the truck driver approach, walking slowly up the hill from where his semi and come to a stop beside the road, I was nervous – although I knew I was in the right I also knew that professional drivers have a reputation of being hard to deal with. An accident can have serious implications for them with their employers and their insurance.

The man’s demeanor was kind and concerned, checking repeatedly to make sure there were no injuries and that my vehicle was drivable. As we exchanged information I learned that he is the owner of the trucking company (so no employer to get in trouble with) but even more interesting – I learned he is a friend of my husband, friends with my husband’s employer and friends with the people who own the company where I planned to take my vehicle for repair.

We laughed and apologized to each other and wished each other well. He told me to say “hi” and “sorry” to my husband and to have him call and we’d get the repairs worked out.

The spiritual lessons that can be drawn from this event are numerous – from the reasons why I was out on that road in the first place, the place and timing of the accident, the minimal damage, the other party involved and our connection to each other. I expect I will be thinking and praying on this for some time.

However, the main thing I’m taking away today is that this entire event did not track along the natural order of things and that fact is important to take note of.

As a Noahide there are many, many questions – Where do I fit in? What teachings apply to me? What is my purpose? What is my future? The questions go on in depth and variety and my current knowledge and understanding varies from topic to topic and often the more I learn the more I realize I don’t know.

The last few months have been challenging as I questioned “Who am I and where do I fit in?” The answers have been coming softly in a variety of forms and loudly in today’s direct example.

I am a daughter of Hashem. Hashem is above nature, and He can arrange the events in my life to be above nature too.

If I ground myself in this truth my emuna is strengthened. If my emuna is strengthened I’m in a better position to do my mission on earth. If I’m doing my mission on earth, I’m getting closer to Hashem. If I’m getting closer to Hashem then everything else is extras and it really doesn’t matter which of my questions get answered and which do not.

Today was a vibrant reminder to me, an answer to my prayers, and a perfect example of the fact that Hashem is ABOVE nature. This is something that I, obviously, needed to be reminded of.

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Jennifer invites you to participate in a regularly held Noahide on-line study group that reviews the garden series books of Rabbi Arush. You can contact her at jenniferjwoodward@gmail.com for dates and times.