“…right when a sense of injustice and powerlessness seemed to grip me, the source of the lie was revealed—a material sense of man!”

This experience, which included several powerful reversals of material sense meant much to me!

On an October weekend, I traveled to a large family baby shower.  My preparation for the event included both a present and prayer. It was a very happy time with an atmosphere of God’s love for everyone involved.  Returning to work that Monday, in rush hour traffic, my car was broadsided and spun 180 degrees by a young woman trying to enter the rotary as I began to exit.  The cars were quite damaged but the woman, the children with her, and I were completely untouched and oncoming traffic was able to steer safely around us and kept flowing!  The presence of God’s love, witnessed so clearly throughout the family weekend, just pervaded the moment. There was such a sense of calm. The woman immediately stated she was at fault.  We felt awed by the protection, and expressed gratitude for everyone’s safety.  Police cars and fire trucks arrived to a very orderly scene. The insurance information was exchanged with a kind of neighborly affection, free of any sense of accusation, and we were both able to drive the cars home.

On Tuesday, in a statement to the woman’s insurance company, I told of the other driver’s regret at hitting my car and again expressed gratitude for everyone's safety. The claims adjuster agreed it was wonderful. 

On Wednesday, when we dropped off our ten-year-old car for appraisal I was very concerned it would receive a low assessment value, putting the replacement cost on us. We had planned to drive it for several more years and it felt unfair.  That night at church, the readings were so good.  They reassured me the protection I’d witnessed was still embracing every detail of my experience—everything was in place and complete, revealing itself.  The shadowy sense of concern just didn’t square with what I was seeing and had witnessed. I gave a testimony about the freedom and protection and left the meeting with an expansive sense of Love embracing all.

By Thursday, it was confirmed both cars were totaled and I received a disturbing call from the insurance company. The company now had the other driver’s statement, claiming the exact opposite of mine and putting me at fault for the incident.  The adjuster explained the damage to the cars was such that each statement was equally plausible.  The police report was of no help and I had not thought to reach out to any witnesses at the time - in part because the other driver was so sincere in her admission of fault.  I was shocked. The adjuster agreed it was a tough one, but in the absence of other evidence, the company must accept her statement as fact.

I hung up stunned in the face of that awful lie. Almost immediately, right when a sense of injustice and powerlessness seemed to grip me, the source of the lie was revealed—a material sense of man! The sheer goodness we'd experienced was so real and encompassing, the shock just melted away.  I returned to my work, assured we were all the children of His care.  

About an hour later, I found a voicemail from the insurance adjuster. He said the company was ready to honor my claim. His client had called back to reverse her statement and acknowledge her ill-timed entry into the rotary.  The power of Love’s activity was tangible.  There was no sense of personal vindication, just joy in seeing Love would not allow either of us to fall victim to a lie.  I reversed the belief that she could somehow suffer financially from stating the truth.

We soon learned our appraisal amount was quite generous and it included a free rental car until we found a replacement.   I enjoy our new car, but love most what I’ve been witnessing!