When I resolved that Across My Path was a clever nuanced subtitle for my blog, I never considered what the permutations of that title might be. In my estimation, the people and the situations encountered in daily living gave a richness to my life that was eminently share-able! Consequently, it was inconceivable to me that my path could even remotely embrace being In the Ditch. But, that is exactly what showed up one hot, hot September Sunday.

Pleased that my talk had gone well on that Sunday, I happily sped through moderate traffic while the mercury was embracing 109°. Suddenly, a car in front of me slammed on its brakes, I swerved, was rear-ended and traveled. Oh, yes, I traveled…through the ditch—wide ditch, big ditch, bumpy ditch, drought prickly ditch!! Coasting to a stop a ¼ mile later, I got out of my auto, fully present yet totally outside of myself. Oh, oh, oh my!

Auto accidental happenings didn’t end there. Would that they had yet the universe still had a point to make. I left my parked rental car at Center for Spiritual Living the following Sunday while I joined family to “car shop”. My rental was the only car in the lot when we returned and that rental had been bumped big time. Really? Re-e-e-ally? Seven days, two accidents. At that moment, there was no room in my psyche for anything other than dumbstruck bewilderment.

But, this tale is not an observation on auto accidents nor even the eddy of emotional catastrophe that consumes one as all of the necessary steps are taken to resolve the matter. Rather, it is a paean to the gifts of grace that emerge from the most untoward of events.

Something about the intensity of an experience cracks open a level of awareness that is both jolting and crystalline. The irritation over an inadequate home repair, the simmering anger about an argument, or a sadness stemming from not being promoted at work disappear in the face of a new view on the workings of the Universe.

While there are many, many gifts of grace—each one absolutely perfect for the one experiencing them—life proceeds differently afterwards. For example, there was no doubt in my mind or my heart that I was absolutely and utterly protected when I went on this Mad Hatter’s Ride. There were other gifts of grace bestowed in the ensuing week. Only great confidence and love permits me to say—Wow! Am I ever grateful for that experience!!