Article November 7, 1994 Issue

Surrounded by God's care

Patrick Errett Welch

It was a morning in late winter. The sleet and snow that had fallen the night before had left several inches of loose, wet slush on the rural highway over which I drove to work. Traffic was normal, and I was traveling at a moderate speed. Just as I came over a hill and began descending a modest slope, a car coming from the opposite direction—perhaps fifty yards in front of me—began sliding across the road directly into my path. Startled, I touched my brake pedal. Immediately, I found my car whirling around, sliding down the highway. After several rotations, my car suddenly stopped. It was sitting in the middle of the opposite traffic lane facing the opposite direction I had been heading. Although I was somewhat disoriented, I was perfectly calm—not at all fearful.

Not a single car was approaching me from behind, but several were coming by me in the lane in which I had been traveling. They had all slowed down considerably. The car that had swerved in front of me was not in sight. The driver had apparently gained control and proceeded up the hill. After a few moments, I drove forward until I found a safe place to turn around. Then I went on to my office, arriving at the same time I did other mornings.

It probably appeared to other drivers at the scene that an accident had been avoided by sheer luck. But luck had absolutely nothing to do with the situation. What happened was a demonstration of divine protection. I understood that I was surrounded by God's loving care, that I and all others were under God's complete control.

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