It doesn't rain very often in the high desert, but when it does it usually floods, and somehow, I felt that this was going to be one of those dangerous flooding days. I dreaded going down the twisting hill in the rain. There were always bad accidents on that hill, even on the best of days. When work was over and it was time to go home, I still felt that dread. To make matters worse, the road I had taken to get to work was flooded. So, I would have to take an alternate route.

I was on California Highway 62 approaching Pierson Road. There was a yellow school bus stopped at the stop sign on Pierson Road. Traffic was heavy on Highway 62, so the bus was going to be waiting quite awhile for a break in the traffic.

I was a relatively new Christian. I had just started going to church regularly and was developing my personal relationship with Christ. It wasn't quite where I was hoping it could be yet, but I was truly trying to get my spiritual self together. In my rearview mirror, I saw my Bible on the back seat. I had forgotten to take it in the house after church and I reproached myself. But somehow, having it there was comforting today.

When I was about fifty feet from the intersection with the school bus, the unthinkable happened. The bus sauntered out in front of my car like I wasn't even there! My brain raced. Could I stop in time? Could I pass in front of the bus? Could I pass behind it? My mind calculated every possibility with lightening efficiency: the bus's speed, my speed, and the width of the road. My whole body struggled to push the brake hard enough to stop my car before it collided into the bus, but I realized no matter what I did I couldn't save myself. I was going to die and I knew it.

With my brake pedal hard on the floor and with nano-seconds to live, I had an amazing sense of calm as I acknowledged my impending death. I breathed a prayer and told Jesus I was claiming my salvation that He had promised and died on the cross for and I was placing myself in his hands as I faced my fate.

My car slid into the side of the bus and my ankle broke as the brake pedal was forced back against my stiffly braced leg. I accepted this was it. Then everything went black.

When my eyes opened I was surprised to still be alive. I tried to unbuckle my seat belt, but it would not disconnect. As I tried to move my body I realized I was all busted up. I smelled something burning and I could see smoke. It seemed to be coming from the engine. Panic struck and I asked God why He had spared me only to have me burn to death. I tried in vain to get the door open but the driver's side of the car was crunched up. I dug deep to find the strength to crawl over the center console to the passenger's seat. I thought perhaps I could get out that door but my body was too broken to move. It refused to move. My panic grew and I beat my fists on the glass begging someone, anyone, to get me out.

Many people had gathered around the car and were trying to get my door open, but it wouldn't budge.

"The jaws of life are coming!" Someone said. "Try to be patient!" But, I was too scared to be patient. I expected to see flames any moment.

Then, out of seemingly nowhere, a man with a gold colored shirt came up to the car and removed the driver's door with effortless movement. I couldn't see his face only his torso. Then, with my door open, the crowd surrounded me. Who was that man? But, with the crowd, I could no longer see him. He seemed to come from nowhere and disappeared into nowhere. It seems that no one got a good look at him. A nurse urged me to stay still until the fire department and ambulance came. It would be a few moments. The flooded streets were giving them trouble as well.

My nose was on my left cheek and my face was numb. I looked down at my body - I was turning purple all over, but I was smiling. The nurse asked me if I was in pain, and I said, "Yes, isn't it wonderful, I can feel everything."

The police arrived and I managed to give a statement. As EMT's put me in a neck brace and placed me on a backboard, I heard witnesses say that they had seen a passenger in my back seat as my car slid into the bus. The emergency personnel looked for another person in the car, but there was no one else.

I could go on and on about how my insurance and the medical field failed me, but the truth of the matter is that it doesn't matter. The Great Healer has taken care of me, and I improve as he sees fit.

Not working for over 2 ½ years, there is no way I could possibly meet my bills. Yet, I have never even been late on a payment. Once, I was helpless and knew that I was totally at God's mercy. I began to witness almost monthly miracles and God continues to provide for me.

Thank you, Jesus, that through this tragedy I have learned how wonderful and real you are. I regret nothing that happened. I am blessed!

Oh, by-the-way, months later when I went to collect my personal belongings out of my wrecked car, the only thing missing was my Bible that had been in the backseat.