In Awe of God's Protection

Several years ago, my brother had been bothered with raccoons getting into his attic through a vent.  Before this could be fixed by a professional, I chose to go up into the attic and tack up some screening over the vent. This area was ten feet over the garage and only partially floored. After climbing up into the attic, I was very careful getting over to the vent to make the temporary fix. Afterwards, as I was walking back over to the attic opening, I mistakenly stepped into an area not floored. I immediately realized I was falling through - on my back. Knowing that I only had less than a second to pray, my thought and plea for God came in an absolute and adamant refusal that the situation was even happening. This strong rebuke was not simply denial - it was based on and due from years of prayer and study of God’s All-ness. I remember thinking very strongly the word NO.

The very next awareness was that I was sitting on the garage floor in the ‘Indian style’ position, with dust and insulation still falling down from above. My brother was standing nearby and was a bit in shock, as I was. As the seconds passed I realized I was totally unharmed. I stood up and realized this even more so. I was amazed and in awe. I became more and more aware of what had just happened with God and that I would never let go of this. As we looked around at the mess and the huge hole in the ceiling, we both laughed, but deep within myself I was on my knees loving and thanking God. When cleaning up the mess, we saw that a shelf had been snapped in two and pulled off of the garage wall. Because my elbows were slightly stinging, I realized that it was my elbows that caught the shelf as I was falling through. I had no memory of hitting the shelf nor even landing in the floor. Some might say, “Thank goodness for that shelf!” But, I know that it was God who landed me - totally unharmed and even in a comfortable position.  It was as though I had never fallen.

This experience from day one has taught me to never underestimate time spent in prayer and study, and the immediacy and proof of God’s presence.

I’ll end with paraphrasing a quote from Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy where she states that these mighty works are not supernatural, but supremely natural and that they are the sign of Immanuel, or “God with us.”   I am forever deeply grateful.

Judy Bruce

Knoxville