Sunday 2 July 2017

A different perspective

23 months ago a man, driving a car, caused a collision. It was just after 9am, he was returning home from dropping off a couple of videos in town and had stopped to get coffee and a sandwich. As he drove along the straight stretch of road that he had driven a thousand times before he felt and heard, more than he saw, something hit his car. He thought, at first, that a deer had come out of the ditch and ran into the side of his car. As he looked into his rearview mirror, instead of a deer what he saw was the blur of colours, a person, flying into the ditch.

He pulled over as quickly as he could and went back to see if this person was okay. As he got to her he saw she had a helmet on, still attached to her head. He looked and saw a bike, white, about 20 feet ahead. She was conscious and trying to get up, she was asking for his help. He said, "Oh my God. I'm so sorry. I didn't see you". She kept trying to get up, pushing with her arms. Blood on her face. He did his best to sooth her and told her to just lay still. Another man arrived and said he had called 911. An ambulance was on it's way. Someone else stopped and offered first-aid. Thank God.

In what seemed like an eternity, an OPP officer arrived. The ambulance came and put the lady on a stretcher, loaded her into the back of the truck and drove away with lights and siren. Now, all the attention was on him. He felt like he was going to be sick. What had happened? What did he do? What did he remember? No, he did not have his phone. Yes, he was alone. They looked at his car. There was a white streak and scratch on the front right panel and the passenger side mirror was smashed. There was a hot coffee in the cup-holder and a half-eaten sandwich on the passenger seat. No, he had not been drinking the coffee - it was too hot. Yes, he had been eating the sandwich.

He sat in the back of the cruiser while the officer spoke to him. What had just happened? How could this be? How could he have not seen this person, a woman, on a bike? He had not seen her.

After that it was all a blur. He doesn't remember how he got home, or what he told his wife and kids. Everything would be different now. He could not look people in the eye. Could not even look at himself in the mirror. He had caused irreparable harm; damage that could not be undone. He would remember this for the rest of his life. Every day he wished he had the courage to look her in the eyes and say he was sorry; longing to be forgiven.

He had not seen her.

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You are forgiven.



9 comments:

  1. Wow! Thanks for sharing this Julie.

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  2. Forgiveness = HUGE!! Grace with a capital G. Bless you for daring to step in his shoes.
    Something so devastating can happen so easily.

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  3. Forgiveness is so very beautiful. Thank you for writing this and for forgiving. Sending so much love.

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  4. Dear Dear Julie. I just can't help but respond to your powerful,powerful post. When I received it in my inbox this morning...it took my breath away! I applaud you for the impactful and admirable step you have taken. You are a leader and your walk is influencing others. Love, Prayers and Blessings!

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  5. Julie, Thank you so much for this even though I am crying right now. This is each and every one of us. You have demonstrated such grace in this post.

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  6. We need to stop this ridiculous "forgiving" and "rationalizing" of bad driving. There is no rationale basis for making excuses for people who carelessly cost other people either their lives or a lifetime of misery. How can there be any justice for the blameless victims when we concern ourselves more with how guilty the perpetrator must feel, than how terrible a loss the victim (and their families) have suffered?

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    1. When you break down the word disease, you get dis-ease, as in a dis ease of the body. Imagine what holding onto all that negativity does to the body. Imagine what stress that causes internally. Forgiveness is just as much for the victim, so they can feel some relief. Doesn't Julie deserve that?

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  7. you are an example and an inspiration for many

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