** This is a special guest post from Rasansky client relationship coordinator Steve Wade. The views expressed are his own and may not reflect all of those within the Rasansky Law Firm family. **
For the most up-to-date information what the ACU family is doing during this time, visit Blogs.ACU.edu/IWantToHelp
As you have probably heard, a bus carrying sixteen Abilene Christian students, faculty members, and a family member lost control Friday afternoon and crashed on U.S. 83 near Ballinger. 19-year-old Anabel Reid passed away at the accident site and everyone else was injured – some critically. Texas DPS is trying to sort out what happened, and ACU students and staff are feverishly praying for those who remain hospitalized. A vigil was held Friday night and ACU president Dr. Phil Schubert has been faithful to support the ACU family during this tragedy.
Saturday, Dr. Shubert filmed and uploaded this video updating the ACU family and offering words of encouragement.
A Vivid Reminder
This tragedy strikes home with me, because my friends and I were involved in a similar bus crash in 2002. Our youth group was travelling to Louisiana Tech for church camp when the bus lost control, ran over a guardrail, and plowed into a concrete pillar at full speed. Four of my friends died that day, and no one will ever be the same.
I remember the emotional roller coaster I went on soon after. The shock of the initial accident wore off pretty quickly. Then came the devastation that some of my friends were never coming back, and some of the ones that were had suffered such extreme neurological trauma they weren’t even the same people. Then came fury. Irrational lashing out at everyone, pointing fingers every which way – and eventually upward.
It’s hard to trust in the sovereignty of God when He doesn’t stop a tragedy from occurring. But I suppose that’s why we walk by faith, not sight.
A song of encouragement that got me through the years of frustration I experienced after this was “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me. It’s a vivid reminder that the best is still to come.
To those who are suffering from this tragic ACU accident, please accept my prayers and the thoughts and condolences from all those whom I work with.
Until He Returns,
Steve Wade
