StepAside

I have been in two major car accidents and was able to walk out of my last one (going 80-mph on the freeway -- spin-out) and it did not fully set in what had happened until I went to clear my personal items out of my car. I saw the front end of it and began to cry because I was able to see just how close I came to death.

I don't think that it takes religion to make you see fragility of life and thankfulness for living, and I don't think that you have to go to "cold" stats to justify your awe. There is some kind of in between that an event like this makes you exist in for awhile, and it does seem to make things around you look differently.

Does this make sense? Needless to say, I am glad that you are ok.

I like the word "awe." Raised by an agnostic father and a pagan mother, neither of whom had much truck with organized religion, I did learn from them a great sense of awe at the sheer power of the world around us. Ultimately, we are not in control of that power, despite our modern society's obsession with such control.

Maybe another word we'll borrow from the Christians (unless they got it from some pagan group, which is very possible) is "grace." Grace requires letting go of the Why, and accepting the gifts that are offered.

So, with great Awe, stare at the stars or the sparkling snowflakes, and whisper a Gracious "thanks" on behalf of all your friends and colleagues who appreciate having you around!

One of the most rewarding (and challenging) epiphanies of my life has been to discover that there really is no "reason" for me to be here at all, therefore, whatever meaning my life ends up having is meaning generated by the reasons and value I give/bring to it. 'Tis an exciting freedom to create my passions, and an awesome resposibility to own the results.

No question that uncontrollable and unchosen events like your recent one offer the opportunity to fall in love with life all over again. "Cherish" is the word I use--new eyes to see new and profound beauty in my worlds and the folks who inhabit them with me.

Your near-miss gives me (and everyone whose life you touch) the opportunity to feel you, as well as all of my life and loves, new and precious. We're soaking it in, beautiful woman!

In a word: bourbon.

Okay, here are some more words in case that one isn't the right answer. I've been mulling this for a few days and this is the best I can do (it's always bad when the disclaimer comes this early). As I think about your question I think about the many people I have know who claim to know God's purpose. I have difficulty with this because if a deity does have a master plan, would we really be able to comprehend it? My experience with humans is that we lack a longview (in more ways than one). That said, you might make a personal journey, not to answer why you were the one in a million, but to explore what your life means to you. One of the things we've been talking about in your absence is the changes that you were already making so that you could be more responsible (as in able to respond) to the things that matter most to you.

I'm gonna riff off of Ghandi here (probably a huge cheese play) and say "be the change that you want to see in the world." Most of what my own spirituality has taught me is that the point of it all is to be good to people, to do right by them, to live simple and live honest. You don't need a big spiritual awakening (and from the "Get Fuzzy" comic you posted I'm guessing you are good with that :-)), but that doesn't mean you won't or can't have some profound insights and profound impacts on those you encounter.

The way I see it, the purpose in you surviving is what you make of it every day.

I'm coming very late and accidentally at that to this conversation. What Ty says is beautiful, and I would just like to add that I think you are one of those rare individuals he describes. You're a rare commodity in the world of academia (and I'm sure in the other world as well.) If there's anyway to improve upon that than WATCH OUT!