133 car pile up, who's at fault?

There was a 133 car pile up in Texas yesterday.  Many people were injured... some died.  Fire crews went from car to car doing triage.  The police took over from there.  They looked into every car and decided who was ok, who needed immediate medical or physical attention, who were beyond their resources to save, and who were already gone. It's a horrible trauma to be the guy (or gal) who has to run from car to car and do what he can, when he can.  It will take weeks, months, maybe forever for the pictures in their minds to fade away.  And yet here they were, in the freezing cold, giving their all to help who they could.

There are many others who jumped in to help.  Ordinary people who were there at the scene and all the myriad of wrecking crews who will be dealing with the carnage for days as they sort out the wreckage and bring the freeway back into working order.  

My heart goes out to them all as I saw this morning news.  The talk of the day was not full of gratitude for the grueling effort of our first responders.  Not even an offering of comfort for all those involved.  Or thankfulness for those who survived and those who got it cleaned up.  Instead news was a vicious call to root out who might be at fault.  At fault?  Really?

I live in the North.  This year we are still three feet behind from our average snowfall.  Which gives you a picture of my experience with snow.  Here, much responsibility is placed on the one who chooses to drive when the weather is bad.  Ultimately it is my responsibility to decide when and if I drive.  And it is my responsibility if I do not choose wisely.  

At the same time, sometimes... it just is what it is and no one can always foresee a hazard.  I remember a time when I was driving down the interstate on dry pavement, it was cold and snowing but nothing was sticking.  All of the sudden there was a literal line on the road.  On one side of the line it was bare and dry, on the other side, it was black ice, thick and deadly.  There was no warning at all!  There was no way to prepare and no one was being foolish even though we were all of the sudden going way too fast for the conditions of the road.  Over 40 cars piled up just behind me.  I barely escaped the same fate.  Until it was too late, no one knew what was coming.  Sometimes... it just is what it is.

It's not the fault of the road crew guys.  They are people.  They have a heart.  Most enjoy their job because it is a service to others.  Sometimes, it just is what it is and no one can know more than we know.  

Please, please... now is the time for gratitude and gratefulness.  There is so much more good that we can do when we look for and focus on the good.  

Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Meditate on these things!