It was such a pretty little car, that shiny little red Honda Civic. But it was no match for the big CSX train! There the little car sat, practically under the train, with its windshield crushed, frame bent, and hood, doors and fenders all one inextricably tangled mass of steel. Foolish little red car!
Or should we say, Foolish driver? The little car was fit only for one more trip—to the junkyard—but the driver was only slightly injured. Now, trains do not leave the tracks and pursue a victim down the street; they go right on their own track. The crossing signals were working. How then could it have happened?
The driver said he had his windows rolled up and the radio playing, and he never heard the train nor saw the signals. Insulated in his own little capsule, he felt perfectly safe until the moment when his little world crashed. Sad—sad—sad!
But how very, very human. It is so easy to surround ourselves with our own affairs, our own comforts, our own interests, and to be unconscious of anything else until a crash comes. The driver of the little Honda lived to drive again, but many, many drivers have gone carelessly into a crossing and have not lived to have another chance.
Hopefully, a crash will only shake our complacency and wake us to reality. We cannot cocoon ourselves from trouble, but there is One who can be a refuge . . . a very present help in trouble. If we know Him and know His love and power and care for us, we can never, never be totally destroyed.
We can be shaken, yes, but always with the knowledge that the eternal God is Thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
Why not acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace?
Boast not thyself of tomorrow;
for thou knowest not
what a day may
bring forth.