In a heartbeat
Charles Phillip Taylor, 04/15/2025
In a heartbeat
Out of nowhere… slam the brakes hard.
From behind… an unknown crunching.
Taking unexpected child life
…in a heartbeat.
In a heartbeat
On vacation… push the limits.
From behind… an unknown wave crest.
Taking unexpected young life
…in a heartbeat.
In a heartbeat
Youthful mother… test results came.
From behind… a hug of support.
Taking unrelenting life tolls
…in a heartbeat.
In a heartbeat
On a gurney… pacer pads on.
From behind… a grip of terror.
Taking on a calm assurance
…in a heartbeat.
In a heartbeat
A transaction… myths resisting.
From ahead… a firm hand drawing
Taking unexpectedly my dread
…in a heartbeat.
Among others, these several deaths have influenced my life. A childhood friend died in a car accident when his mother had to slam the brakes hard, and their station wagon was hit from behind when the driver could not react quickly enough. The rear of the car was crushed. My friend was in the back, as was common back in the 50s, and he was crushed to death. My 23-year-old brother was a risk taker and went out too far in rough water in Hawaii. He lost his boogie board and was stuck on a chest-deep sand bar. A large wave came up from behind and smashed him to the bottom. His body was recovered a few minutes later, but too late. During my early church life, we helped a young mother with her kids and house until she died from breast cancer. Ironically, not long after, a friend who helped us with that also died of breast cancer. In my 60’s a heart condition was discovered in me that is not life threatening, but they did not know that yet… my heart kept stopping! I was on a gurney with pacer pads in place when a nurse came up behind and gripped my hand with terror. I was surprised to discover that I was totally calm and feeling quite confident that the Lord would either take me or keep me here to do His work. I told the nurse not to worry and that I was ready to go home with the Lord if he wanted to take me. She seemed to relax.
I was a “God fearer” all my life, but my faith reached a crisis in grad school when I was confronted by the Lord that I needed to give my life to him! What? I have to give up my scientific mind and fully accept all those myths? Yep. It took a year, and many times I cried and asked God not to let me die until I came to him. Once I surrendered, he showed me that all of math and science surely point to him as creator and sustainer of the universe… science and math just need to catch up! I was very happy to realize that even on the gurney, I was totally free and knew that He was just a heartbeat away.
Charlie
This is my first work that was drafted in a session at the Reunion chapter of “Shut Up and Write”, the Reunion chapter. Thanks!
