Episcoblog - The Online Journal of the Rt. Rev. Leo Michael

« Time for the Real Anglicans to Stand Up | Main | MERRY CHRISTMAS »

December 22, 2007

Mile Marker 225

We sat to enjoy the casserole that Holly had prepared for the family. This was very special as we had Betsy our daughter from Wisconsin. Perhaps the last time we would see Jake in this Christmas season as he would be leaving for Wisconsin to play for the Badgers as a tight-end. He will only get four weeks off a year with his football/college schedule. Audra has dropped by on her way to Colorado. We were delighted to see her too. And the Christmas Novena for the evening was fast approaching. We said grace, started eating, and a then came a call from Fr. Jerry Ellington at 5:19 pm. We knew that Fr. Jerry Ellington was on driving to Evansville, Indiana. We had gone to Evansville just a couple of weeks ago to introduce Fr. Jerry as temporary priest in charge of the Trinity Anglican Church.

“Bishop Sir, I got into a wreck at mile marker 225. My car is totaled. I got hit from front and back.” My heart almost stopped.

Good Lord, I thought please keep him safe. Then I asked him how he was and I could see his confused response. He said he was alright. And I knew what it felt like as I had been in one myself.

I shared the shock with our family and called Dn. David Straw of Trinity Anglican Evansville and asked him where mile marker 225 was. He was not sure but sure he was checking and making arrangements to find the location and get there.

Called Fr. Don Pendergraft who was readying himself for the Christmas Novena at St. Gabriel’s and briefed him of the same. Called Fr. Jerry again and he said that he would keep me posted as ambulance and police were there. Still we were trying to find Mile Marker 225 on the map. In the meantime another call to Dn. David gave the information, “Mile 225 at Sullivan MO. Nearest hospital is Missouri Baptist Hospital MO”.

In the meantime my attempt to call Fr. Jerry went to his voicemail. When I called the hospital, they would not share any info because of HIPPA regulations. I begged them to let me know if there was a priest in the ER and I am his bishop from Arkansas. That worked. And soon I heard Fr. Jerry on the phone. He said he was hurting and he would not know if he would be admitted in the hospital. He was on route to be x-rayed and was not sure of his status still.

Fr. Jerry’s family needed to be informed. Got in touch with his daughter Jessica and told her of this tragedy and that our folks from Evansville were on the way. They were relieved to know this. Dn. David was awaiting a word from Fr. Jerry on the doctor’s report.

Dn. John Slavin who had treated numerous patients advised me that we should leave right away. Learning from Fr. Jerry that he had sustained whiplash we headed to Sullivan. As we neared mile marker 225 we found the road strewn with glass pieces. And I said how terrible must have been for this minister of God to have encountered this tragedy.

Fr. Jerry told us that he was driven to Flying J, off exit 226 and was waiting for us. When we arrived, what I saw deeply moved me. Here is this man of God, on fire for the souls of His flock who has hit on the roadside, trying to smile through his pain. The purple chasuble, the mass kit everything was on one table as though he was a gypsy priest. We were so glad to see him ‘alive’ and thanked God. With him were also our dear Evansville folks who beat us there by few minutes: Dn. David, his son Connor and Postulant Charlie.

Fr. Jerry said that as he approached mile marker 225, the cars in front of him veered off the road, hit the median and began to spin. All that he could see was an oncoming SUV. The guy was driving on the wrong side of the freeway. Fr. Jerry braked, but to no avail. The SUV hit him and folded the hood of his car. Upon braking, the cars from behind hit him. His car sustained impact from front and back. Fr. Jerry said this was really a miracle for him to get out alive. Jesus whom he was carrying in his mass kit alone saved him that night.

Fr. Jerry quickly began to check on those that were involved in the impact and they were all fine, except himself. When he asked this elderly gentleman what he was doing, he said that he thought he was on the right side of the road. Fr. Jerry wittingly responded that he wished it was true, that this gentleman was on the right side and hundreds of cars on the wrong side.

In spite of his hurting pain, Fr. Jerry took a moment to give away all the goodies he had brought for Evansville and went over with them an overview of his plans for their scheduled meeting the following morning. Even in his painful moments he did not shy away from his responsibilities.

By the time we picked up Fr. Jerry and reached home it was 7 am. We surely were glad that we came. What was amazing was that Fr. Jerry was alive, given what had happened. God was looking out for him. What more I appreciated was the dedication of this priest in caring for his flock, willing to go miles to take care of them, truly a servant at heart. Fr. Jerry is a great example for us all to emulate his priestly courage and commitment.

Posted by frleo at December 22, 2007 2:18 PM

Comments

Post a comment