14 Jul, 2008
Teen Dies After Car Full of Friends Crashes
Almost two years ago (July 2006), with a good-night message to deliver, Dale Mozena walked out his back door in Kimball, Minn., about 10:30 p.m. and over to the large tent where his daughter Krysta, 13, had practically been living this summer.
"[Krysta] said, 'Good night. I love you, Dad,' " Mozena said. "I said, 'I love you, too.' And that was the last that I heard from her."
About sunrise the next morning, Mozena got the news that Krysta had died, not long after she had sneaked out of the tent with a friend and gotten into a car with four other teenagers.
The car, which had been headed south on County Road 35 in nearby Wright County, veered off the road at about 2 a.m., hit an embankment and rolled over at least once in the ditch.
Everyone was taken to area hospitals, and all but Krysta suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Krysta was pronounced dead at Hennepin County Medical Center just after 5 a.m.
"She had a long life ahead of her," her father said.
Authorities had yet to determine exactly why the young people had been out at that time or where they were going. They said they believe alcohol was a factor in the accident, although it was too early to know what, if any, charges would be pursued.
Mozena said he couldn't remember a time when Krysta had sneaked out before.
Since the accident, the father learned that Krysta had met a teenage boy, also in the car accident, a few weeks before and that she was interested in him. He wishes his daughter hadn't made a mistake.
Said Mozena: "It's just a young kid experiencing something different who made a wrong choice."
story courtesy startribune.com, 7/21/06
Make Good Choices
Proverbs 3:21-26
21 My son, do not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck.
23 Then you will walk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught. (ESV)
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about our need for Godly wisdom?
First of all, keep in mind that the word "son" does not mean this isn't for girls. (Sorry, ladies, this is one of those cultural deals where the word really does include everyone, even though it wasn't translated this way in the ESV.)
Wisdom is one of the mega themes of Proverbs. One reason God gave us this book and this passage is because He wants His children to be wise.
Every day we can choose one of two paths. We can be independent, rebellious, or just ignore God and stumble along the path of the fool. Or, we can choose God's way and He will give us wisdom. God's wisdom comes to us through His Word made clear to us through His Spirit living in us.
This is what abiding in Christ is all about. Staying connected to Jesus provides us the Godly wisdom we need to live right, have right relationships, and make right choices.
Please understand that I do not know the spiritual perspective of the teenage girl killed in the car accident, nor am I judging her. But her father said she "made a wrong choice". Heartbreaking. If only she could have made the right choice.
Godly wisdom can be the difference between life and death.
How can you connect today's God's Story scripture to your life?
- Remember that choosing Godly wisdom must be daily. If you find yourself wandering over to the path of "the fool" during the day, then choose God's path of wisdom hourly, every 15 minutes, or....
- Stay on the path of Godly wisdom by staying connected to Jesus through time in His Word, praying, and spending time with others who desire to abide in Christ.
- Keep a written journal. Record your Godly choices and foolish choices. After one month, review your journal to see if you have been walking the path of Godly wisdom.
- Talk to God right now in prayer. Spend a few minutes in complete honesty with Jesus. He will show you where you've been making unwise choices and how to make Godly ones...
How can you connect today's story and God's Story scripture and your story to others?
- Pray for your friends or family members who are making wrong choices. Ask Jesus to show them His love and to use you to be an example of Godly wisdom.
- Use today's story as a conversation starter with your friends about the idea of making good choices.
- Pray every day for Jesus to give you the courage you need to make Godly choices in front of others who don't know Jesus. Walking the path of wisdom can be very lonely.
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