it pours

Automatically, the first thing I did when I hit the deer was say "Oh my God!" It wasn't in vain. Okay, honestly, it probably was in vain - like "OMG!!" But, it was also intentional. I knew immediately that the deer accident was no accident at all. Everything in my life is on purpose. Completely 100% without a doubt on purpose.

I checked my rear view mirror for the car that I saw coming towards me from the other direction. I hit the doe just a few seconds before the oncoming car passed me from the other lane of this rural 2 lane highway. I saw the other car's brake lights, but it did not look like the car had been jolted - I knew the doe was not hit twice.

I called Rich because I immediately craved a loving voice. I was alone in the dark, not sure if I could drive home, if I should drive home, or if I was even dreaming the whole thing up.

The driver of the other car turned around and came back to check on me. I thanked him, and he moved on. This was clearly a blessing from the Lord. It was so comforting to know that if something worse had happened to me, that there would be a witness of help.

I was very shaken. My whole body was unnerved, and I couldn't gain composure enough to convince Rich that I was okay - even though I knew that I was. I was crying uncontrollably, but I was trying to calm down enough to share part one of this story with Rich over the phone. I was okay. I was not hurt. The car didn't even appear to be hurt. I related some of the damage to Rich, and after we determined that the vehicle didn't appear to be leaking from anywhere, I convinced him that I was okay to drive home. I insisted that Rich stay on the phone with me during my whole drive, it felt so good to hear his voice.

I calmed down pretty quickly, but not completely. Of course, my adrenaline was in overdrive, and my mind was racing a mile a minute. I could smell the animal through the vents. My immediate thoughts were not of the poor doe that I had just killed, but were of the fact that I was fine. That I was alive and driving my car home, despite the incredible impact that was made. The more I calmed down and shared my experience with Rich, and later my good friend Emily, the easier it was for me to see the message. God was right on cue, wasn't He? I wanted to stir things up a bit. Everything certainly happens for a reason.

I called the insurance company to report the claim, and the agent I worked with was very kind and said some things to me that made me feel good. I knew that this was going work out okay. In a way, I was actually in shock that things were still working out so well for me. It was sure to get more difficult than this. I felt like the car accident was the beginning of Murphy showing up... you know, of Murphy's Laws? I was sure that once the accident happened, a string of events was going to follow - all of which I was 100% ready to take on. I was feeling very prepared for my exams - wanted to be sure I had the headphones on, listening to whatever God was going to teach me.

I couldn't help but find myself in student mode. I all but had my notebook and pen ready for taking notes. Just what does the deer mean? Why now? How can I learn and grow from this?

I woke up the next morning with stiffening pain in my neck and shoulders and a horrible headache, which was mainly located at the base of my head near the spine. It was cause for concern, but not detrimental or crippling. I called the doctor that morning to see if they thought I should be seen, and the nurse called me later in the day to make an appointment.

Wouldn't you know it - Rich had Friday afternoon off anyway, because of how his hours at work had worked out for the week. I was able to go see the doctor without the stress of trying to figure out how I was going to leave work (aka home, with three toddlers and a preschooler).

Again, this was comically too easy to deal with. Where was the big reveal? I was listening - and still couldn't make out the message. Surely, God used the deer to answer my prayer and teach me a little something new about Him. Right?

Where was Murphy? I was not hurt. I drove the car home. The car insurance is more than cooperating. Appointments and phone calls have been completed without a hiccup. Where was the trail I prayed for - the challenge I was ready to meet. The hurdles to overcome so that I will emerge an even better person?

So, the doctor said that he was concerned about my headache, but didn't feel like I did too much damage. His main concern was whiplash - and said that if the aches and pains didn't subside within a week or two, to call him again and they would do x-rays to check for signs of a minor concussion. He gave me some prescription muscle relaxers and told me to take some over the counter pain killers for the headache.

Here I go again, sounding crazy - I know. But, I tell you - everything in this world happens for a reason. There is a reason for everything that happens. And, the fact that the deer aftermath was easy-peasy, happy-go-lucky is no coincidence, either.

Saturday and Sunday were still kinda rough. But, the car went to the car doctor and I was on some great medicines that actually gave me plenty of sleep. Rich was taking good care of me, also - minding the girls and making food. We hunkered down, relaxing around the house for the weekend when we could.

By Monday? I was fine. I woke up with no pain. I even got a call early in the morning from the insurance agency and they told me that the car would be fixed free minus the deductible.

Wouldn't you know it? Our $500 deductible was written into our budget since just about this time last year. We had been putting some money aside in our Dave Ramsey budget for "Car replacement/repair" for quite some time - and the $500 deductible would easily be taken out of that. So, we don't even need to worry about using our "emergency fund" to pay for this. Again, too simple.

It's been more than a week since the deer's fate. I can still see what it looked like on impact. I can still smell it. I can still remember the feeling I had before the crash - when I was talking with my Father, and I can still remember the adrenaline rush that I experienced after the crash. But, none of it is traumatizing me. None of it is disabling to me. I'm totally okay. And still loving life - every minute of it.

And, as I write this - it's clear that I can stop searching for the lesson or meaning of this episode. It's right in front of my face. God doesn't need to put me through trials and challenges to help me know Him. I'm trying too hard. His love is overwhelmingly simple and unconditional. When it rains, it pours... even if the drops are like pixie dust.