This morning while I was driving on my hour-long commute to work, I was in the right lane, turned on my left blinker, looked over my left shoulder, and started to quietly slide into the middle lane, like I’ve done every day for the past ten years.

The morning was going as usual.  I had the radio on and was singing along.  It was still dark out even though it was the morning.  Lights along the highway illuminated the way as I, along with dozens of others, headed to our jobs.  Everything seemed normal.  There were no accidents, no sirens, and no unwanted back-ups.

As I edged over, in the corner of my eye, I saw a white van rapidly approaching and then moving into the center lane at the same time as me!~  It was literally crash or swerve…so I swerved.

I don’t really remember what happened next, other than my car fishtailed, and although I didn’t spin around, I was uncontrollably swinging into the lane to my left, then like a ping-pong ball to the break down lane to my right, back and forth, several times over as if I were on a sheet of ice.  My hands were tightly gripped on the steering wheel and I didn’t let go as I kept crazily looping from left to right unable to gain control, but nothing seemed to work.  Then suddenly everything righted itself and I was just driving along the lane again as if it never happened.

I don’t know how there were no vehicles in the lanes into which I kept swerving or why I didn’t hit any guard rails to my right. When it was all over, my heart pounded out of my chest and I couldn’t believe what just happened; or, that I made it through alive.

Some driver of a white van, somewhere, never even realized that he changed me forever. I watched the van drive ahead as if nothing had happened.  The situation reminded me of why being happy in the moment is so important; because in another moment that joy can be lost.

Life is like that so many times.  Something happens out of the blue and you swing out of control. It’s not your fault but pointing fingers doesn’t change anything.  The rug gets pulled out from under you.  A completely unexpected event occurs.  As you try to gain your balance again, it’s like a curve ball just keeps getting thrown at you over and over with no way to hit it or catch it.

I guess the could-have-been-fatal incident was a wake up call.

How many times does fate knock at the door?  Who is to say why I made it without striking a single other vehicle or a single other thing?  The same force that guides me through my every day I suppose was next to me today, and it’s called purpose.

I realized that I am a little naive to think that learning karate is just learning karate.  A few kicks, a yell or two, a hip throw, an escape.  Teach the kids, teach the adults, be a role model.  Easy, right?

Nope.  Not when purpose is involved.

Somewhere along the way, purpose starts to settle in.  Karate, for me,  is a conduit.  It is a connector and a communication.  It’s a way for me to build friendships, bring other people together, and share.  I never dreamed that is where it would lead me, but that is where I am. Fortunately, I’ve not had to swerve too far from it.  Even with all the tasks, responsibilities, and other pastimes I have, it’s always been center to who I am.

Have you ever felt that?  A time or place or action that one day becomes core to the person you are?  You wake up and think, wait a minute…is that what this is all about?

Karate has brought me friendships from all over the world.  Pakistan, China, Singapore, Canada, England, and more.  I actually chat with these folks on social media or on skype and we bond through the commonality of martial arts.  They share their stories.  Some are familiar with bombs going off down the street as a regular occurrence; others practice Tai Chi in the snow; some struggle with finding the right teacher or a place to practice; some are champions or leaders for their country’s martial arts competitive teams.  I would have never had the opportunity to talk to these amazing people, if not for my martial art.

Through my blogging, I hear from readers who are struggling with something; who find hope in the words I have to share.  I’m honored they find meaning here.  I offer to pray for them and I remind them that whatever they are going through is only temporary.  It’s part of my purpose.

Purpose is something you can’t shake.  You must accept it and grow with it.  If you fight it, it will come back and find you again.  Another day, another time, but it does not let go.  So, I accept that my purpose will always involve the martial artist part of me, which translates into a personal vision and outreach.

Let’s just say I did NOT like the feeling of swerving uncontrollably on the highway.  In a split second my car was literally gliding in various directions. I’ve never experienced it before and I hope to never again.

I think I really do know why I was left unharmed and why others were not in my way on a busy weekday morning commute, and it has to do with purpose.  Purpose has its own destiny and there is no cutting it short or ruining it.  I actually owe it a big Thank You for keeping me safe today.

The biggest lesson, of course, is that whatever happens that makes you shift out of control for any period of time, can’t always be controlled; but you must try very, very hard to find your way back to center.  You must know that there is a reason for it and you will find your sense of purpose in the mix.

Every day I settle into the center lane of the highway.  I practice the same good driving habits as always, like the basics of a good karate skill.  The highway is nothing more than my conduit to work, my entryway to the place where I spend the bulk of my day.

In the same way that I need the highway to get me where I’m going, I need my martial arts experiences to fulfill my purpose.  In the same way I conquer an hour’s drive to and from work everyday, I conquer a mission that’s been set before me.  In the same way I couldn’t control my car this morning, I can’t control everything that happens to me.

Winning at Life?

Yes, I think today was a shining reminder that I have a whole lot of work left to do when it comes to sharing my martial arts mindset with people, like you.  Swerving saved my life today and the next time it happens, in my car or in my life, I will find a way to return to center and everything will be right again.  I’m willing to swerve out of control for a moment if it means gaining more balance and momentum in my life in the long run.

Andrea