Near Disasters

Have you ever had a near disaster?

In 1961, a B-52 dropped a pair of 24 megaton bombs on a farm in North Carolina. They didn’t explode.

In 1980, a fix-it guy dropped a wrench which bounced off the ground with enough force to penetrate a hole in the Titan II missile while she sat on her silo in Arkansas. The top of the silo and the tip of warhead flung over 600 feet in a massive air disaster.

When I was about 5 or 6, I experienced my first near disaster. At the time I lived in Sparta, New Jersey in a suburban area with plenty of kids in my neighborhood. The key to being 5 or 6 and being happy was you had to own a bike, any bike. If you had a bike you were almost an instant member of the neighborhood bike gang.

Some may remember our bikes back then. They were all 1 speed bikes (unless your parents had money); banana seats with a sissy bar on the back; playing cards clipped to the wheel frames with clothes pins; big handle bars and some with a goofy horn or bell. These bikes were cool when we didn’t know what cool really was and we all had a special trick only we could do with our bikes.

At the end of my street, there was “The Hill”. The hill was a thousand miles high, well it seemed that way to us but actually was more close to maybe a thousand feet but steep. The hill was the highest point in the neighborhood and the road that ran up the center took you to another neighborhood.

The Hill was our starting point, we’d line up at the top and race down the hill. There were a few dangers mainly from cars but after 9 in the morning, this danger was minimized. Of course some of us had brake and tire issues but that never scared us, we were daring.

Which brings me to my first near disaster. This particular morning we were perched and ready to race down the hill. This particular morning I got a good jump at the start on the rest of the guys and took an early lead. As I got half way down the hill out of the corner of my eye I detected movement. Apparently, a little Weiner dog did not care for us racing down his hill that day and attempted to stop us.

He chose my bike to run in front of and I t-boned the Weiner dog. The next sequence of events are still blurry to this day. I don’t know whatever happened to the Weiner dog; I don’t remember what happened to my bike; I don’t remember what my friends did but I do remember the severity of the road rash when I flew over the handle bars from the quick stop. This was a near disaster to me.

The bible talks a lot about near disasters. It reveals that we all are going to face some before we breathe our last breath. But for those of us who trust in Jesus, we need not worry. The same Lord who takes care of the birds by providing them food, the same God who has every single hair on our heads counted, will be at work to protect us and our houses in accordance with His will.

Proverbs 3:1-18 my son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. ²

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

⁴Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.⁶

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. ⁸

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

¹⁰My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.¹²

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.

She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.

When you lie down you will not be filled with fear and your sleep will be pleasant. You will not be afraid of sudden disaster, or when destruction overtakes the wicked; for the LORD will be your source of confidence, and He will guard your from being caught in any trap.

Amen?