Like With a Gun?

There are few things in life that really give you a clear view of who you are and whether your beliefs are real or not. A genuine situation in which you find out how rooted in your beliefs you actually are. Do you fear death? Pain? Evil? Do you really believe God is who He is and loves you and will protect you? It has taken me a while to write this blog.

Honestly, it's been a strange journey that I have been on the past few months. About three months ago, I was robbed at gunpoint and shot. It was in a part of town that is rarely travelled except during business hours. When the men that shot me pulled up in their car, I thought they must be lost and need directions. I smiled and began walking toward their car before realizing they were wearing bandanas to cover their face and then one of them showed me his gun. I'll spare you the details of the rest of the event, but I learned some things about myself and my God. I learned that I am truly deeply rooted in this faith that I claim. I learned that the "peace that passes all understanding" is very very real. I have no explanation for being able to remain calm at gunpoint than the peace that only Christ can bring.

Emergency workers love someone that has a good attitude after something tragic happens to them. Adrenalin is truly an amazing thing. When adrenalin wears off and the doctor is pulling bullet fragments out of your foot, it really really hurts! It's probably going to take me longer to get through security in airports now.

I still struggle with anger over what happened occasionally but I have forgiven the person that pulled the trigger. I wish I could do what God does and toss the whole thing in the Sea of forgetfulness, but I can't seem to do that. I still have pain and will probably have effects from this for the rest of my life, but that is something that I can deal with. It is still amazing to me that someone less than ten feet away from me, can miss my chest, my face, and all my vital organs and hit me in the foot. You can't tell me that God didn't have a hand in the placement of that bullet.

-Joshua Smith