12.21.2008 < | home | >


I confirm my social plans for the night with my two friends. I get in my car and take off in the night.
I'm on a mountainous road; the road travels along the side of the mountain, and on the other side is one wimpy guardrail keeping cars from plummeting off the cliff into the river hundreds of feet below.

My cell phone rings. It's one of my friends, telling me she's tired and that they don't feel like meeting up after all.
I hang up and stop my car, getting ready to do a K-turn to head back home. Then out of nowhere, my headlights go out.
Great, just great. What else can go wrong tonight?
I put the car in reverse and gun the accelerator in frustration.
Not a good idea, as my rear slams the guardrail and before I know it, the car slips off the edge of the cliff and I'm free falling off the mountain.

Calamity ensues.
My car is falling hundreds of feet down a cliff, and I'm stuck inside completely helpless.
In panic response, my hands start touching everything: the steering wheel, the dash, the windows, the shift knob, as if trying to utilize something, anything, that could possibly stop me from plummeting to my death.

Ironically, everything is silent. There is no noise. Why would there be? Even a 3,000 pound car will make no noise when free falling in empty space. And perhaps it's that silence that makes me gather my coherent thoughts. I'm still panicked, there's no questioning that. But I realize this is it. There is nothing I can do to keep me from my death.
I understand the situation now.
These are my last few seconds on earth. I drove off the cliff and I am alone in my vehicle, ready to splash into the waters below at any given time.
I am about to die.
I can only hear my gasping breath as I start a silent prayer in my head...

God in heaven, I want to thank You for all that You have done for me. You've been good to me even before I was born, and You have faithfully stood by my side throughout my whole life. Thank You for watching over me and blessing me.
Although I think it too soon, it appears that You would have me end my time here on earth. Please accept me with open arms as I am about to enter Your kingdom. I eagerly await to finally be with You in paraside.


As soon as I feel my car splashing into the dark waters below, I wake up from my dream.
It's 5AM. I'm in my apartment. My cat, Myers, is sleeping silently next to me.

It wasn't the type of dream where the impossible happens, where you can fly, or have millions of dollars, driving an expensive sports car or being on a date with a really hot celebrity. The whole thing felt real, from the planning to meet up with friends, to the defeaning silence in the car as physics took its toll.

I think what made it a dream was my response upon realizing the gravity of the situation.
Hence, maintaining a grateful attitude towards God as I am seconds away from death is something I can most likely only dream about.