I want to preface the tale I'm about to tell with a confession.

A couple of years ago, in the wake of my divorce, there were a number of areas in my life in which I threw caution to the wind. I spent a bunch of money. I ate too much. And I drove too fast.

My weight is coming down nicely, thank God, but I still have a number of bills to pay and my driving record will take quite awhile to recover.

Keep this in mind as I tell you what happened yesterday.

I never saw it coming. As I was driving home from a delightful lunch with my bride, I approached a set of railroad tracks that run near our house. (Our driveway crosses those same tracks, so we have to cross them at least a couple of times a day.) I was thinking to myself, "Someday that train's gonna get me. It's the law of averages."

Well, the train didn't get me. Yay. After crossing the tracks, I neared an intersection and prepared to make a left-hand turn. Slowing to a stop, I noticed two cars in the lane to turn right onto the road I was on. What I didn't see was the Geo Tracker in the straight-ahead lane. I pulled out into the intersection. I never saw it coming. Not before it was too late. The Tracker slammed into me and set me into a spin.

My first thought after the car jerked to a stop against a snow bank was, "I hope I can drive this home." I couldn't.

Since the driver's door was pressed against the snow bank, I had to slide over to the passenger seat to get out. I went to see if the other driver was okay. He was. We both were.

I called the police to report the accident. They sent a car. It was then that my mind turned to my driving record. "I wonder how many points this will cost me? No doubt, I'll lose my license for awhile."

I called my wife to tell her what had happened. I also explained what I suspected about the license. She was glad I was okay. I felt like an idiot.

The officer arrived and took our statements. He was very kind. He told me it was okay to call the tow truck. He also told me he would have to cite me for the incident. I understood. "How many points will this be?" I asked. "Four." Yikes. I explained the situation to him. He was very kind. But the law is the law. I understood.

My wife arrived just as the tow truck pulled up. We hugged and she kissed me. She was a widow when I met her. She seemed glad to not be one again so soon. I felt both grateful and ashamed. I don't deserve her; she never ceases to amaze me with her love and tender compassion. Then it happened.

I never saw it coming. The officer came over with the police report. He said, "You get a break today. The other driver doesn't want you to be cited for this, and I like to consider the other party's wishes."

In a moment the 4 points evaporated before my eyes. My mouth gaped open making me look, I'm sure, like the stunned fool I was. I thanked him. I also ran across to where Rick - the other driver - was standing and shook his hand, thanking him and offering him God's blessings. What a gracious man, an instrument in the hands of a gracious God.

On the ride home in Liz's car, my thoughts turned to the next issue. There would be a deductible on the insurance. How much? It would be ugly, I was certain.

I called Allstate as soon as we got home. The deductible was $500. Ouch. Again, I felt awful. It's bad enough to be out of work and already to feel like a burden on my wife. Now this. Her response? "It'll be okay. I'm not afraid." What a gracious wife, an instrument in the hands of a gracious God.

It was time to go. I had to teach Catechism at the church in Menasha.

After that was the Lenten supper and worship. Liz usually goes to her church. But, with only one car for awhile, she stayed with me. I have to admit, I liked that consequence.

After church we stopped by the mailbox. Mail in hand, I apologized again to Liz for my carelessness. I really need to be more careful.

We came into the house and as I was taking off my coat I was ruminating on how easily I could have been killed. Liz would have lost another husband. How awful! I really need to be more careful - for her, if not for me. And now I was costing her another $500. Where would it come from? "I have some things on eBay," I though. "Maybe they'll cover it. Somehow God would provide."

Just then I heard Liz gasp in the kitchen. She was standing there with an envelope in hand and a look of amazed confusion on her face. "What happened?" I asked. She showed me the check. $3,000.00!

Four or five years ago she loaned a young lady this money, never expecting it to be returned. God picked yesterday for it to arrive. We never saw it coming.

In one day God made a host of evil disappear. Not because I deserved it, certainly. Not because of anything I did to earn it, absolutely. I deserved to lose my license. I deserved to be saddled with the guilt, shame and burden of my actions. But God erased it all. When I think of the succession of events, I'm sure that stunned look returns to my face - followed by a smile and a resolute determination to take better care of myself and my family.

God help me so to do.