Black Ice

It wasn't until some years ago that I'd ever heard the term, "black ice."  A news person was using the expression to explain a terrible traffic accident that had occurred.  The driver of the car didn't have a chance, never saw it coming.

Just because I'd never heard black ice before doesn't mean I didn't know something about it.  Let me share a story from my days at Kent State.

I lived in Beall Hall, an eight-story dormitory on campus and was heading to my first class of the day.  The easiest way out rather than an elevator was to take seven flights of stairs all the way down and then exit the extreme side exit closest to main campus.  This door linked up to the concrete pathway that extended from the side entrance of the building to the side door and then beyond.

I had rubber boots on that day, knowing that the weather was cold, and I was dressed in warm clothing including gloves and probably a hat, though I don't remember it.  As soon as I flew out of the door, there was trouble.  The whole sidewalk was coated with ice that you could not see.  It was also dusted with a little bit of snow that looked like powdered sugar.

Known for one who has good balance, I went on about a 20 foot gyration of movement trying to regain control of myself.  It was one of those moments that you just couldn't believe was happening, and I was waiting to wake up out of my dream any second.  At the end of the "body goes this way, then that," segment of the event, gravity finally won.  I ended up in a snow drift by the side of the walkway placed like a dog, in the crawling position.  How mortifying!

The first thing I did was look around to see if someone had noticed.  Sure enough, a boy walking from one of the other dorms was staring holes through me.  He didn't say a word.  He probably still laughs to himself if he gets reminded of it.  I hope he enjoys it!

Well, I buried my pride and got up from my degraded position, gathered my books and notebooks and purse, and righted myself.  My knee was a little bloodied and stayed that way for the rest of the day.  My panty hose had the start of a run that got longer and longer as the day went by.  I felt damaged.

A few days later, it started to be funny.  These days, it's hilarious!  Never overlook the power of a sense of humor.  It can carry a person through almost anything.

So on that day of the black ice, my carefully planned morning was thrown into chaos.  Lots of things have happened since then that make that morning pale in comparison.  And yet, there was a lesson to be learned.

The bottom line is we have to realize that there are things that are just out of our control.  You know, the Serenity Prayer?

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen

Thing about it and say it -- memorize it -- at least the first part.  God's grace is enough for right now.  It doesn't work on yesterday and it can't cover tomorrow.  But today, His grace is enough.