A Fragile Thread

Life has been described as "a fragile thread", and we got a reminder of that last night. On Thursday night I usually rehearse with a quartet from Saddleback Church, and we gathered at the leader's home at 7pm as usual - except that the leader wasn't there. His wife told us he'd called and was running a bit late but should be there soon.

The evening rolled on...7:30, 8:00, 8:15, and still no sign of him. His wife was calling his cellphone which he carries all the time, but was not getting a response. Finally, about 8:20, the phone rang and it was a representative from Los Angeles County Medical Center calling to say that he had been in a serious auto accident and was in the hospital. There was no word on condition (they'll never tell you anything on the phone), but since the hospital had called on his cellphone trying to reach a family member, we were all very concerned.

It wasn't until nearly 9:00 pm that we found out that he was stable and talking, and after his wife made the long trip up to the hospital (accompanied by a couple of quartet members) I got the rest of the story. He doesn't remember what happened, but the car he was driving was broadsided by an SUV. The car was so badly damaged the fire department had to use the "jaws of life" to get him out, and fearing critical injuries, the paramedics elected to airlift him to the medical center. None of that sounds very promising.

However, God was good, and although he has broken ribs, a possible pelvic injury, and many bumps and bruises, he's going to be okay. He probably won't be singing for a little while (if you've every tried to sing with a rib injury you can just imagine how painful that can be), but he'll recover.

Life is a fragile thread.