When Jesus Takes The Wheel

There was black ice early that evening and I had just turned the corner,

Headed up the highway to pick you up from skating lessons.
I had read about black ice, and I knew the temperature was right around zero
But nothing had prepared me for this invisible, dark surprise!
Suddenly I was on a skating rink of my own, with snow banks for walls
Without skates, but with four, round, rubber tires instead.
The steering wheel was useless, it made no difference at all
I was a speck spinning out of control, cast like dice on sinister ice.
Swirling snow, mind-blurred…in the centre was a sane space
Where peace sat like a bubble; I reached it and sat myself there.
It was like sitting in the middle of God’s hand; I waited
While the car spun about me in mad oblivion.

Up ahead approached a huge semi, and I did not miss the connotation with

Your estranged father, was bemused by it, even in those crazy moments.

It would surely kill me, crush my tiny, brown Chevette

Like candy wrapper thrown nonchalantly to the ground.

Peace hung over me like a canopy; I felt almost happy!

But there was a much stronger pull; I could see your little face

The only thing I could really see, was your little face, waiting, waiting

For Mommy to appear and pick you up from skating, why was I late?

What if Mommy could not show up that day, or ever again?

My heart was lying broken in my chest at the thought

And fierce supplication brought me strength; an angel sat beside me

And another sat on top of the car.  I would survive and arrive

To pick you up and not leave that little girl alone.

The car lurched then, charged like a bull, evenly hitting the snowbank

Head on, straight, clean, perfect angle…what magic made the car ride up

Over the bank directly into the field below, an oasis of snow?

I was driving in the field now, and I looked up to my right…

To see not one, not two, but three semis roar by.

They had not even slowed, to do so on the black ice

Might have been total catastrophe.

A young girl watched from her farmhouse window

And she jumped into her car to come to my rescue.

I was climbing up the steep embankment, slogging through

The deep, white drifts… aching for you and for our wee car, “Beans”.

But I was fine, and I was coming to get you!  My plan was to hitch into town,

Acquire a tow truck and get to that skating rink come hell or high water,

To reach you and ease your fear, to put a smile back on your sweet face.

Angels had whispered to the wonderful girl sitting by her window;

She drove me into town and the tow truck had soon rescued Beans,

Still intact, unscathed, and I was on my way again, cautiously wary

Of the wicked ice and the mere seconds it could take to lose control.

I pulled into the parking lot of the arena, hurried in to find your

Anxious, bright eyes glued to my face, and with relief I took your hand.

You were the reason I prayed; You were the reason I stayed.

You were the reason that Jesus took the wheel that day.

With love forever to Little Flower, Mom