Living or Pancakes?

On Thursday February 4, 2010, my family and I made our way to San Antonio.  This was for work as well as some time for family to hang out, see the Alamo, and eat on the Riverwalk.  Upon coming into the final freeway merger, we came up to a fresh auto accident which consisted of a single car rolled over on its side – on fire.

I immediately jumped out of our car, while the man in the car in front of me, led the way to the overturned sedan.  As I approached on foot, I asked, ‘Is anyone in there?’  The man looked at me and said, ‘I think so…’  Bewildered by this statement, I screamed at him, ‘Let’s get them out!’

After checking the first couple of doors, locked.  Then I checked the back passenger-side door, and discovered it was unlocked.  I pulled it open, and smoke rushed out into my face and the San Antonio night sky.  Two young women were screaming for help to get out of the car.  I grabbed the first by the arm and pulled her out, after which, she collapsed fainting on the pavement.  I stuck my head into the smokey car and asked, ‘Is anyone else in here?’  The second woman, shouted, ‘Yes, I’m still in here!’

I yelled for her to grab my arm and get out right away.  She was limping and struggled to the guard rail to rest as her friend was passed out with emergency vehicles on the way.  My wife, back in our car with our son, called the emergency medical dispatch and personnel were deployed.  We got back in our Toyota and drove to our hotel.

The thing that strikes me about this incident is that I am surrounded by people in burning cars everyday, and I do nothing.  It is so easy for me to somehow see the present need of people in a physical burning car, but I ashamedly cower at the opportunity to help those in the spiritual burning car of sin and death.  I don’t run, ask questions, extend my hand, or offer my assistance to people struggling in an inevitable death.  My hope is that the Lord would use this event in my life to awaken my senses to those around me each day perishing without Christ.  That I would ask the world, ‘Is there anyone left who needs saving?’