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I was heading westbound on K10 early this morning and came up on the wreck in which two people died. I was the third car back heading west that had pulled over. I arrived after the ambulances or helicopters had left the scene. There were probably 10-15 emergency vehicles there, some still arriving after I had arrived. They told us there would be it would be 6 or 7 hours before the road was cleared so this told me it had to have been a horrific accident and lives were most likely lost, which was confirmed when I read the account in the paper this morning. We were told to cross the median and go back east. This was the second accident I came across on my way home from Kansas City. There was a pretty serious accident at I-35 and Lamar that involved at least two cars. I had some time to reflect on these accidents as I drove around trying to find an alternate route home. :~) Since I was the first car diverted back to the east, there wasn't yet someone available to provide an alternate route besides going back to Highway 7 and taking the turnpike back to Lawrence. Although I have lived in this area off and on (mostly on) for the past 37 years, I don't know many roads off the beaten track and I am especially directionally challenged on a dark an foggy night, I drove around some time before accepting that fact I can't find my way out of a paper bag. It is obviously a miniscule thing to even bring up but it gave me an opportunity to think about the families and others impacted by these accidents.

I have realized before that is so dangerous to be out of the highway that late (or early in the morning, as the case may be) because other drivers may have been drinking or extremely sleepy. In both of these accidents, the scenes had not been well secured yet and I remembered what I'd been told as an EMT many years ago. Rescue personnel such as police officers, paramedics, firefighters and tow truck drivers are at such a risk of being struck and killed or seriously injured by another driver while they are attempting to save people's lives. At the earlier accident on I-35, a car came zooming by on the right side of this accident scene and I was so fearful for those working the scene.

My condolences to the families who lost loved ones in these accidents. I was struck again about how precious life is as well as the unpredictability of our lives, and but for spending a few more minutes with good friends last evening, I could have been one of the victims in these accidents. It reminds me to tell those I care about that I love them and to not take them or the blessings in my life for granted.

I am often tempted to say in these situations, but by the grace of God go. But, I guess I don't believe God chooses to provide me grace but not the victims of this accident. Rabbi Harold Kushner wrote a wonderful book called, "When Bad Things Happen to Good People" that seems to say the same thing. Rabbi Kushner very purposefully started the title of the book with the word "when" not "if", because bad things do happen to good people. I can not possibly say it as well as this very wise rabbi, but he asserts that this is a chaotic world that we live in and bad things inevitably do happen. He believes God is there is provide us support, but doesn't intervene in the natural laws of this world. I know for people who believe in the power of prayers, this seems off-base. I guess I believe God may answer our prayers, not by always giving us what we ask for, but by giving us the strength to endure bad things and providing us with a loving and supportive community.

As a social worker, I have recommended this book to many people that have experienced the grief of a divorce, a death of a loved one or their own serious ailments, whether physical, emotionally or spiritually. I don't suggest that people have to look at the world the way Rabbi Kushner does, but by reading his book they may find comfort and solace. Rabbi Kushner is an expert on the Book of Job and the trials Job endured. The rabbi and his wife know something personally about grief and tribulations. Their beloved son had a disorder called progeria, which is essentially accelerated aging. The expected lifespan is age 13. They watched hopelessly as their precious son grew old and died right before the eyes.

Well, this blog has rambled on and began as a comment about a wreck I came upon so please forgive the disorganization of this blog. Please give your loved ones at extra long hug today and be especially kind to people who've had bad things happen to them. I know I will.