by Melissa Konetchy
Still in disbelief, I sat in my car, facing downhill, after spinning and flipping the vehicle on a mountain pass. My driver window had smashed completely, and I had broken glass shards in my hair. My glasses, which flew off my face in the commotion, had been located by the tow truck driver, and were back on my face.
Yet, without so much as a run in my stockings, I got out of the vehicle, and used the kindly offered telephones of drivers who stopped to help, to call my family. I looked at the roof of my car, which had collapsed like a tin can, and saw the back seats flipped forward, completely flat, (wow, why didn’t I realize they converted like this sooner?). And then I grabbed my purse and copy of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, and stood by the side of the road. I guess you just can’t keep me down, no matter how hard you try.
Accidents were not a new concept to me. I’d been a clumsy girl so I was used to getting bruises and bumps, skinned knees, and had already experienced 2 previous car accidents. The first one happened when I was in 7th grade, but I had an amazing healing through prayer of my badly wounded knees. They were healed and fully operable within 3 days. I wasn’t even out of Physical Education for an entire week. That was my first vivid proof in my life of the power of Christian healing.
On the road that morning, this visually-dramatic accident had apparently left me physically in one piece. But doubts lingered for days regarding the purpose of my life. Why hadn’t I just died in the wreck? It sure seemed like that would’ve been the logical outcome. Why was I still here? Perhaps there was a special purpose for my life.
For weeks I was terrified to drive or ride in a car. Every curve in the road, or vehicle that merged into my lane left me cowering and flinching in the passenger seat. And as the days passed, I became increasingly aware that I was having difficulty moving my neck and turning my head. One evening I lay in bed, stiffened with pain, suddenly aware that I was dealing with symptoms of whiplash. No sooner did this thought occur to me, than I quickly focused on what God knew about my identity.
In that instant I knew that I was molded and shaped in spiritual perfection, upheld not by a skeleton, but made upright and aligned by Principle (another term for God). I strongly affirmed that my relation to God is what makes me whole. Able to listen to God’s guidance and obey His instructions, I was a pure and beloved spiritual being. The pain quickly disappeared-forever. Just a few weeks ago I drove that same mountainous pass for the first time. Not only did I have no fear, as I went my way I was rejoicing, singing, and praising God for the beautiful day.
That was almost 3 years ago and the decisive healing including seeing myself in a whole new light. I no long consider myself to be accident-prone! 
I used to blame myself whenever I ignored one of those angel messages that told me to do something that would’ve saved me some trouble. but now every time I listen, I’m grateful, and acknowledge that those thoughts come from God. The result is that I’m a better listener now.