The day I almost died

The day I almost died -- there have been others. I’m not a daredevil, but I have lived dangerously many times in my life. On this one morning, I was going about my business. I was on my way to Lowes in Livingston (Texas) to buy some lumber for a deck I was building at the back of our house. This was the day the railroad commission decided to install crossing bars and warning lights at this dangerous railroad crossing. A very smart move! There had been several tragic accidents in the past at this same crossing.

Driving along, I was thinking about my shopping list for our deck. Traffic was moderate, it was early in the morning, but ahead cars were slowing down. There were several orange traffic cones placed alongside the road, just before coming to the crossing. The workmen there had on their bright yellow safety vests and were directing the oncoming cars and trucks. Traffic slowed for the construction. I want to add that one of the reasons this crossing was so dangerous was both sides of the road, at this crossing, were blinded by trees and tall, dense brush. One could not possibly see an oncoming train coming from either direction! Holy cow it had been scary driving this road in the years past!

As I was next in line to approach the crossing, the workman in front of me signaled me to stop, but then motioned me to come a head. I started to move, but something told me “NO STOP!” I slammed on my brakes only a few feet from the tracks. I heard a tremendous blast of a train’s horn! For a split second, I thought I was going to be hit by the speeding freight train! The front bumper of my truck was only inches from the locomotive doing at least fifty! I held my breath and time seemed to stop. I asked myself, did I die in this horrible accident? Was I watching how it all had happened? I am sure I must have turned whiter than white at that moment!

After the train had past, drivers on both sides of the road stared at me in unbelief. They too thought I must have died in a surreal train-truck crash there! I was fortunate! No, I was blessed to have survived that potential accident. God and His angels had warned me, slamming my foot down on my brake, at the very last moment, to keep me from being killed. After I crossed over the tracks, after the train was gone, I pulled off to the side of the road and shook all over and cried. Thank God, I was alive not dead.

Do you believe we have guardian angels looking out for us? If not, I am here to tell you, I most certainly do.