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When Tragedy Hits ... Where Does Faith Fit In?

When Tragedy Hits ... Where Does Faith Fit In?
 
“Mr. Dobson, you’ve been asking about your wife. We’re here to tell you your wife did not survive the crash, neither did your mother.”

My operating room stretcher was surrounded by a team of critical care surgeons and staff. I managed to respond, “I wish you knew these two wonderful women. They’re the most important women in my life. If my mom was here, she’d want to know if it had been you that died tonight, where would you spend eternity? I have the confidence that they are in heaven right now with Jesus.”

June 12, 2006 is a date that will forever be etched on my mind. It was on that day a journey began that relates to God’s faithfulness. It also speaks to me of the sovereignty of God — to myself, my family, and to our church family.

I was driving the van to the Oregon Coast for a family vacation. The area we were travelling through was a rural area, not far from the Tillamook State Forest. Accompanying me was my wife Donna, my mother Lillian Dobson, my daughter Kimberly, her husband Brent, and their fourteen-week-old baby Vaughn.

Approximately a half hour from our destination, we were hit head-on by an SUV whose driver had fallen asleep. Our vehicle caught fire on impact. We were all taken out of the vehicle alive and transported to Portland hospitals with life support helicopters and ambulances. All of us had critical injuries with the exception of my grandson who was spared serious injury.

Despite the stoic efforts of their trauma teams, Donna and my mother were ushered into eternity later in the evening of the crash. Approximately thirty hours following the accident, my own heart stopped for twenty-one minutes. It was through the valiant and persistent efforts of the critical care team that they were able to get it started again. Brent, Kim, and I are still facing further surgeries.

In the last three years I have learned a great deal about God, my family, and myself. The questions that crowd my mind are not theological, but practical, like “What will my life be like?” It’s obvious the loss our family has suffered is irreversible. The goodness that Donna and Mom contributed to our family is gone forever. My prayer for myself is that God would hold the “Why?” question captive and not allow me to ask it. I realize it will not be answered this side of eternity.

God is using the crash to develop strength and character. It has been said, “A journey with pain is a small price to pay to see God more clearly.” I’ve learned that to have the right priorities, my focus is to be not on myself, but on God, not on time, but on eternity. I’m learning that no matter how joy-filled or cruel life is, how happy or utterly lonely it can be, that life here on earth is just the first “gasp” of life eternal. It is my determination to have my life make a difference for eternity (2 Corinthians 4:16-20).

A further change that comes to mind has been the discovery that our lives are part of a greater story. I had no power to control the circumstances that altered the course of our family forever. The crash simply happened. But I have discovered that I have the power to choose how I respond and whether or not I trust God. As it is turning out, this power is greater than expected. Could it be that God has entrusted this journey to me in order to accomplish His purpose in and through my life? This tragedy is a personal platform on which to proclaim the glory of God. A hospital bed can be a pretty good pulpit. I’ve been amazed how God is using this journey “to the praise of His glory.”

Many of you have lost loved ones. I know the feelings you encounter when you come to a special birthday, anniversary, and the first Christmas. May you be very conscious of God’s special grace at these times and experience His unfailing truth that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in our time of trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

I remember my dad saying, “A person isn’t ready to live until he’s ready to die.” He also said, “The more friends I have in heaven, the looser my grip is on this world.” Friends, on June 12, 2006, my grip on this world relaxed completely. Furthermore, unless God gets the glory out of me telling my story, then the price has been too high to pay.

 

 

 


About the Author:  Bob Dobson
 

 
Bob Dobson