It was the last day on vacation with my sister and I was asleep in the car, as my sister navigated three highways to get us to her apartment. Merely ten minutes from our beds, the unthinkable happened. My sister’s old, blue Toyota had been hit by a black Honda that ran a red light and was turning into our intersection. Upon impact, my sister lost control and we were pushed off the road and headed towards a fast-food restaurant.

I jolted awake. I woke up to the most disorienting feeling and a loud, hard noise, followed by a feeling of weightlessness. My head whipped forward and the passenger-side seat belt bit into my hip. I could feel the shock of not knowing if we were hurt. I started praying out loud and, as I did, the car came to a stop. I opened my door and my sister and I climbed out. Though we had no injuries, the car was wrecked and was declared totaled. I held my sister as I sang a song of gratitude to God. Her car had stopped a few feet from a window that was lined with people waiting for their fast food.

There was quite a commotion, with a crowd of people, policemen, a fire truck, and the angry restaurant owner. I went inside the fast food place. The smell of sugar and fried food attacked my nostrils. I wanted something to warm me up and calm my nerves.

But, five minutes later I emerged holding just a cup of hot water. I examined the car more closely. To my shock, I noticed that our car had stopped perfectly between two poles. One was a tall restaurant sign and the other was a short, steel rod. If the car had been four inches to the right, it would have been sliced in half. It was amazing that after my sister lost control of the car, it had jumped the curb and parallel parked itself between two poles. Even the cop was amazed.

Just that morning, enjoying my last day of vacation at the beach, I had actually been contemplating what I would do in a life-or-death situation. As I sat on the Ferris wheel that morning, I looked over to my sister and said with all calmness, “You know, if this Ferris wheel were to fall, I trust all would be okay.” The calm I felt was based on my experiences with my higher power miraculously rescuing me from food addiction, joblessness, illness, and poverty over the last three years I’ve been in FA.

Before Program, I ate to feel safe and to feel in control. Whether I am flying through the air in a Ferris wheel, or sitting in the back of a runaway car, I cannot call on dessert to save me. I need a higher power, a power strong enough to keep me safe.