Calendar Books by Allen James - Daily Reading - "The Journey: A Calendar Book"

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Our reading for August 16th from The Journey: A Calendar Book is,

"Wear your seat belt" (James, 2012).

Beside the fact it is a law in most states anyone sitting in the front seat of a vehicle must be wearing their seat belt and we either follow the law of the land or face the personal consequences of having not followed the law, there are also the natural consequences of not doing so;  personal being bring physical harm to yourself or others, natural being facing the reality of being ticketed or spending time incarcerated.  Seat belt laws are established to protect us and others, period;  they're not established to take our rights away.

However; I am a strong advocate of adherence to the wearing of seat belts due to my personal experience regarding the topic.  Sadly in most instances in life we have to "learn through the school of hard knocks" before we "get it".  This was my case in reference to wearing of seat belts.

Prior to 2002 I rarely wore my seat belt, whether I was the driver or the passenger in a vehicle. It was just too uncomfortable, took too much effort to reach over my shoulder and grab the belt, pull it over my chest, and fasten it in the lock.  How ridiculous this sounds, right?

I remember the first car my wife and I had after getting married was a 1986 Ford Escort which she had been given by her parents as a graduation gift from college.  It was the first car as well where I encountered the automatic upper body seat belt which mechanically fastened over the driver and passenger's check upon closing of the door (it was the responsibility of those individuals to fasten the waist belt, which would be realized later was just as vital to safety as only fastening the upper belt could cause decapitation in major accidents). 

But it would happen that on a sunny spring afternoon around 4:30 I would complete my lesson from the "hard knock" of reality I received.  I had just purchased a new vehicle, a 2002 Ford Sport SUV.  Having never wore my seat belt before this vehicle, it would be the case on this day after picking it up at the dealership I would put on my seat belt due to the "dinging" of the tone to remind to to fasten it.  Driving the hour and a half home during rush hour from St. Louis in 65 mph traffic another vehicle turned from a side street directly in front of me.  My vehicle flipped 6 times and landed on its roof, every window left glassless, and sitting headed in the opposite direction I was driving, while I was left hanging upside down, tightly held by my seat belt; not a scratch on me (I'll refrain from imposing the horrid details in reference to the other vehicle and its driver).

The seat belt saved my life most possibly.  Since that date I never fail to take the time to reach over my shoulder, pull the belt across my chest, and fasten it at my waist, not only because it's the law, but because it keeps my safe and secures the opportunity to pursue personal success.

Wear your seat belt.  It's the right thing to do.  Keep looking up.  : ) AJ