Bright lights and red ribbon,
Twisted steel and shattered bone,
Green trees and a gentle rain.
We, life’s seasoned veterans, say, “How foolish!”
Life’s raw recruits laugh at us, so cautious.
Good Lord, redeem all our follies.

Photo of two cars on a tow truck. The 17-year-old woman, driving too fast in the rain, lost control, demolishing her week-old car and breaking the leg of the man whose car she hit. Copyright 2008 Danny N. Schweers