Sixteen and a half with a brand new driver’s
license in my wallet, driving my father’s
’47 two-toned old clunky Pontiac, I turned
left off Hempstead Turnpike when a car swims
shark-like in front of me and I’m twisting
the steering wheel left right when somehow
the wheel takes over, spinning this way then
that and suddenly it’s over, the danger past,
and the shark disappears into the past, and I
can breathe again. Sixty-five years ago this was
and I still don’t understand what happened.
Do you believe in Guardian Angels?
Well, friend, since that day I confess I do.
They have strength, for sure, like the one
who wrestled Jacob all that night. What is
this force behind the wheels that spin around
the earth? Heaven wheels above you to reveal
her glories. And still our eyes stay focused
on the ground. But even there, trapped behind
that wheel, something descended that day to save
my car and me, and I am left to tell the story.
—Paul Mariani
We launched the First Things 2023 Year-End Campaign to keep articles like the one you just read free of charge to everyone.
Measured in dollars and cents, this doesn't make sense. But consider who is able to read First Things: pastors and priests, college students and professors, young professionals and families. Last year, we had more than three million unique readers on firstthings.com.
Informing and inspiring these people is why First Things doesn't only think in terms of dollars and cents. And it's why we urgently need your year-end support.
Will you give today?
