Thus says the Lord, The people which were left
of the sword found grace in the wilderness...
Jeremiah 31:2. KJV
Prison affords its residents plenty of time to reminisce and reflect on the past…
of the sword found grace in the wilderness...
Jeremiah 31:2. KJV
Prison affords its residents plenty of time to reminisce and reflect on the past…
I know this to be true, having now spent forty-five years reflecting on many things. Like when I think of the numerous times I escaped serious injury, or even death.
When I think about my childhood antics and my adolescent adventures, it sometimes causes me to shudder. When I consider all the close calls I had in my attempts, although I was unconscious of this at the time, to test fate and challenge my luck, I wonder if I had a deep-seated wish to die?
Even as a child, I was obsessed with death and dying. I was highly accident-prone, too. My mom made sure Band-Aids were in the medicine chest above our bathroom sink because I needed them often. Black and blue bruises and little cuts and scrapes were my usual.
As a hyperactive and adventurous kid growing up in New York City, I ran across the rooftops of tenements. I took it upon myself to explore dark and dank basements, sometimes with friends, and at other times by myself. The subways, too, were a regular source of adventure.
I loved riding the subways. One time a few friends and I ran from one elevated train station to another on the narrow wooden catwalk where one misstep could plunge me onto the tracks themselves, or over the low railing some fifty feet down to the pavement below.
Filled with restless energy, I would ride my bicycle every chance I got. From morning to evening, I would peddle away, zipping through traffic. I'd often ride through bad neighborhoods as well. Once, while riding through the notorious Bronx River housing projects, I was chased by a handful of older teens who wanted to beat me up and take my bicycle. And another time, while peddling through the crime-ridden Randall Houses, I had a glass bottle thrown in my direction, narrowly missing my head.
I also loved exploring the seedy, garbage strewn banks of a local waterway known as the Bronx River. Its badly polluted waters made it unfishable, while rats ran everywhere. Abandoned buildings, too, were places for me to wander through. No structure was too dangerous for me to investigate.
Looking back, I was a wild and rambunctious kid who routinely took reckless chances. I'd run across the
streets at full speed, oftentimes not even paying attention to the traffic. As a hyperactive adolescent, I think my legs moved faster than my brain. But one day, my carelessness caught up with me.
While I was running home from school one day, I was struck by a car at the intersection of Westchester
and Manor Avenues. Although I went flying and did a full somersault as I hit the ground, I wasn't badly hurt. I was taken to Jacob Hospital's Emergency Room by ambulance, examined and released with nothing but a few black and blue bruises, and a hurting left thigh. It was a close call.
Looking back, I believe God had His hands upon my life. I didn't realize it back then, but I was spiritually blind, if I could call it as such. All I knew was to do whatever I felt like doing, regardless of the consequences. But now, many years later, and after having a spiritual awakening once I fully accepted Messiah Jesus as my Lord and a Savior, I have a better and far more complete understanding of my life than ever before.
Best of all, the Lord, in His love for me, kept a watch over my life. Even when I didn't know the Lord or give any thought to Him, He was standing guard over my soul. He knew of my unconscious desire to bring harm to myself, and He protected me. Obviously, I had a "death wish" when I didn't even know what that was.
I had many close calls, and I survived every one of them because God said, "No!" He would not allow Death to take me. My heavenly Father, in His great love for me, allowed little David to find mercy and grace in the wilderness.
D.B.
NOTE: I hope to delve into the subject of what a "death wish" is in the near future.
When I think about my childhood antics and my adolescent adventures, it sometimes causes me to shudder. When I consider all the close calls I had in my attempts, although I was unconscious of this at the time, to test fate and challenge my luck, I wonder if I had a deep-seated wish to die?
Even as a child, I was obsessed with death and dying. I was highly accident-prone, too. My mom made sure Band-Aids were in the medicine chest above our bathroom sink because I needed them often. Black and blue bruises and little cuts and scrapes were my usual.
As a hyperactive and adventurous kid growing up in New York City, I ran across the rooftops of tenements. I took it upon myself to explore dark and dank basements, sometimes with friends, and at other times by myself. The subways, too, were a regular source of adventure.
I loved riding the subways. One time a few friends and I ran from one elevated train station to another on the narrow wooden catwalk where one misstep could plunge me onto the tracks themselves, or over the low railing some fifty feet down to the pavement below.
Filled with restless energy, I would ride my bicycle every chance I got. From morning to evening, I would peddle away, zipping through traffic. I'd often ride through bad neighborhoods as well. Once, while riding through the notorious Bronx River housing projects, I was chased by a handful of older teens who wanted to beat me up and take my bicycle. And another time, while peddling through the crime-ridden Randall Houses, I had a glass bottle thrown in my direction, narrowly missing my head.
I also loved exploring the seedy, garbage strewn banks of a local waterway known as the Bronx River. Its badly polluted waters made it unfishable, while rats ran everywhere. Abandoned buildings, too, were places for me to wander through. No structure was too dangerous for me to investigate.
Looking back, I was a wild and rambunctious kid who routinely took reckless chances. I'd run across the
streets at full speed, oftentimes not even paying attention to the traffic. As a hyperactive adolescent, I think my legs moved faster than my brain. But one day, my carelessness caught up with me.
While I was running home from school one day, I was struck by a car at the intersection of Westchester
and Manor Avenues. Although I went flying and did a full somersault as I hit the ground, I wasn't badly hurt. I was taken to Jacob Hospital's Emergency Room by ambulance, examined and released with nothing but a few black and blue bruises, and a hurting left thigh. It was a close call.
Looking back, I believe God had His hands upon my life. I didn't realize it back then, but I was spiritually blind, if I could call it as such. All I knew was to do whatever I felt like doing, regardless of the consequences. But now, many years later, and after having a spiritual awakening once I fully accepted Messiah Jesus as my Lord and a Savior, I have a better and far more complete understanding of my life than ever before.
Best of all, the Lord, in His love for me, kept a watch over my life. Even when I didn't know the Lord or give any thought to Him, He was standing guard over my soul. He knew of my unconscious desire to bring harm to myself, and He protected me. Obviously, I had a "death wish" when I didn't even know what that was.
I had many close calls, and I survived every one of them because God said, "No!" He would not allow Death to take me. My heavenly Father, in His great love for me, allowed little David to find mercy and grace in the wilderness.
D.B.
NOTE: I hope to delve into the subject of what a "death wish" is in the near future.
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