Things that go CRASH in the night!
When I was growing up, we called the night before Halloween, Devil's night because mischievous pranksters would tee-pee houses, soap windows, egg houses and more. Definitely not a night full of wholesome activities. I remember in the 80's, the nightly news was filled with stories about fires in Detroit. Because of that, each year when October 30th rolls around, we typically put our cars in the garage and behind our back gate. You know, just in case someone decides to be destructive. This year, we were just too tired to go back out side. You see, my mom was in the hospital recovering from triple by-pass surgery. The five previous days had been spent running back and forth to the hospital. My husband and I were both physically and emotionally drained. So moving our cars was the last thing on our mind. We actually went to bed around 8:30pm that night. We were finally getting a solid night sleep for the first time all week.
Have you ever slept so soundly that you hear something, but think you're dreaming? At 2:33 am (at least that was the time stamp on our security camera) I heard a loud sound, but thought I was dreaming. About a second later my phone rang and I grabbed it already panicking, thinking it was the hospital. It was my neighbor telling me someone hit our car and was trying to leave. I ran to our front window and opened the blinds to see my SUV flipped on it's side and almost touching our house. The sounds of tires spinning and squealing echoed loud enough to draw most of our neighbors out of their homes to see what had happened.
We called the police and thankfully they arrived rather quickly. The scene outside was so unbelievable, that it was hard to take it all in. We may never know the real story of what happened that early morning. But my neighbor at least made it sound like a movie when he posted the details to Facebook the next day. We are all thankful it was just our empty parked cars that were hit. It could have been tragic!
"Things that go bump in the night. A woman had a few too many beverages and played a round of Halloween bumper cars down our street at 2:30 am. She “stabbed “ my truck possibly sending it to the morgue. Yet her rampage did not stop there. Dashing right as swift as a new vampire, jumping a curb and swiping our lovely new neighbors driver side rear bumper. Now to try to make a clean getaway before dawn breaks. She steps on gas of her dragula and swerves through their now, not so perfectly manicured lawn. Her next move is the most bold of them all. Driving her silver bullet into another neighbors chariot passenger side. Turning the poor metallic beast on its side. Her getaway was thwarted there as transmission from outer space was destroyed. That ended tonight’s adventure for her. Now she’s on to her next and more riveting adventure titled “Facing a DUI and reckless driving in municipal court”." (Written by: Ryan Smith)
Only she wasn't charged with a DUI, or reckless driving. She wasn't event charged with careless driving. The driver caused over $50K in damage to 4 cars and was not arrested. We were never asked to appear at her court date. Despite at least 3 calls to the prosecuting attorney's office requesting the chance to appear. Instead they offered her a plea. She walked away with a fine for double parking. Just in case you are not sure what double parking looks like, here is an example. If I didn't live through this drama myself, I would think it was a fictional story from a movie.
When something so shocking like this happens, emotions run high. My car was a complete loss. My husband's car had a few thousand dollars of damage. Due to the supply chain shortage, purchasing a new car took a while. Our lawn is still destroyed. Now that winter is over, hopefully it wont be for much longer. I have to keep reminding myself that these are all things that can be replaced and fixed.
Why am I even sharing writing about this six months later? I wanted to write it about after it happened and was unable to think about it without getting upset. Every time a car drives too fast down the street or I hear tires squeal, my heart begins to race and that panicky feeling creeps in again. There are still skid marks in our driveway and of course our lawn is still a mess. So I am reminded daily of the events of that night. I am angry. I'm angry that all of this hassle happened. I'm angry that this has cost us a lot of money. Most of all I am angry that the person who caused all of this, really had no consequence for her actions.
I started writing this blog a couple days ago and I couldn't finish it. As I prayed and read my devotion this morning, I knew why. I was holding onto anger and bitterness.
This mornings devotion was in the book of James which just happens to be my favorite book in the Bible. The whole book of James is a letter from the apostle James to the Church about practical Christian living. In fact the first point of James' letter tells us that trouble will come and to consider it an opportunity for joy. Then it goes on to tell us to be slow to speak, and slow to grow angry. That an angry person doesn't produce God's righteousness. Here I am holding onto anger over the driver not being punished. Ouch!
I don't know why the judge showed the woman mercy. It isn't important. God knows why and He understands the purpose of each trial we face. Today, I am choosing to forgive and to be thankful for how God protected us and provided for us.
James 1:2-4
Dear brothers and sisters, when trouble of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
