I felt a light touch and then it was gone.

It was a bright and beautiful fall day. My jacket was open because it was getting warm.  My daughter and I were running errands and crossing the mall parking lot to the bank.

There was a spring in my step.   Life was good and there was so much to be grateful for lately. The warmth and brightness of the sun made it even better.

I saw the truck out of the corner of my eye as it rounded the corner where we were crossing the parking lot.  I hesitated and then stepped forward confident that he had seen me.

It was a big, white, wide, 4×4 truck.  As my daughter and I continued across the road I was blinded by a white light in the shape of a large cross.  It was the cross that struck me in that moment.

I heard my daughter’s concerned voice urgently say,  “Mom, did you feel that?  That truck touched your leg!”

Then, I remembered the gentle touch, nudge that I had felt on my leg the same time that the bright light and cross blinded me.

We both realized that the driver had seen my daughter but because of the angle of the sun he had missed me completely.

The nudge I felt could have ended up being a broken leg or even a life threatening injury.

This little incident provoked me to further thought.  I was in such a happy and grateful state of mind at that present  moment.     No  anxiety, dark clouds of  fear or uncertainty  overshadowed me.

This was a new season in my life and it seemed that  every step I took was with the awareness of God’s presence and deep love for me.

Maybe it was just the brightness of the sun that blinded the driver but in my mind I will always be reminded of the bright light and the cross that I saw. A divine intervention ?  Maybe, maybe not?

But whatever the case, the Apostle Paul wrote:

“Rejoice at all times. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Berean)

I am challenged of late to perceive  every circumstance in my life as an opportunity to engage in God’s grace and  love unconditionally,  be thankful and not offended, to forgive and forget.

These past five years have been an incredible journey of healing emotionally, physically and spiritually. I have been living in a place of hope, faith and experience that I have not known before.

My heart was full of thanksgiving that day. There was a bright hope for the future and things stirring in my heart.   If I had been taken at that time it would have been OK though.

I know nothing could happen to me that would change my right standing with God not then and  not ever.

Whether I have been going through deep trials or riding on the clouds like I was that day nothing would have changed for me eternally. Despite my failures, weakness and not knowing better at times , God has been at my side through it all.

Eternity is mine without any doubt or fear and no matter what may come.

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of our righteousness but because of His mercy.” (Titus 3:45)