Alight. Five stories of salvation

Miracles surround us. Often, they’re muted and barely noticed. But sometimes, Hashem pulls aside the curtain of nature, and reveals His Hand openly

By Chana M., as told to Mindel Kassorla

I was spending the summer with friends in Seattle running a SEED program. While most of our week was busy, we used Sundays to take day trips for a much-needed break.

One week, we chose to go to Idaho. We needed to make it back that night, so we drove home in the dark.

I was at the wheel. The road was empty and dark. Then, out of nowhere, a large animal appeared in front of our car. It was white, almost glowing in the dark. (An investigation later determined it was a mountain lion.)

The animal was so close, I didn’t think I could brake in time. Not knowing what to do, I swerved to the side of the road. But I lost control of the car; it flipped over and landed upside down in a ditch.

And we all made it out, unscathed.

The nissim that enabled my friends and me to survive are numerous.

Years before, a volcano had erupted nearby, and the ash had settled throughout the region. Instead of rolling onto hard ground, we landed in soft ash.

It was so dark, there was no reason for anyone to have seen us right away. But the falling car caused a huge dust cloud, which alerted another driver, who “happened” to be a ranger, on the opposite side of the road.

We were driving a very old car, which we’d made fun of all summer. But the fact that it was well-made (they don’t make things like they used to!) was what enabled it to hold its form during the crash.

We were out in the middle of nowhere, and it took 45 minutes for an ambulance to arrive. Luckily, we didn’t actually need immediate medical attention; we were only slightly bruised. If we would have been severely injured… I shudder to think what would have been after waiting for almost an hour.

Walking away from that overturned car unharmed gave me a new appreciation for life, for the small and large gifts Hashem bestows on us every second. My Asher Yatzar — thanking Hashem for my fully functioning body and the miracles that keep it running — took on a whole new meaning.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 770)