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One bright, sunny Saturday morning in April, 1994, I woke at six a.m. and turned to check on my husband. Tony was submerged in his dreams and I knew there was no waking him. So, I gently crept out of bed, pulled on my exercise clothes and decided to take a walk alone.

At the time, Tony and I were living in New Providence, the capital of the Bahamas. With only a small landmass of twenty one miles by seven, life could feel constrictive, and we were happy to live on a road that wound its way along the eastern shoreline, affording beautiful views of the ocean.

Working as high school teachers, Tony and I had been accustomed to an early morning ritual of taking a walk along the water’s edge.  It was an inspiring way to start each day.  We would rise before dawn and watch golden yellow shafts of light break the surface of the ocean, rising in an orb of magnificence.

This particular morning, the sun was already up.  Full of energy, I bounded outside, delighted to feel a cool, fresh breeze, which I knew would not last long, as heat and humidity would soon start to hang heavily.  As I headed toward the gate, I almost stopped in my tracks. An audible voice said, “This might not be a good idea.”

A long time student of meditation, I took inner guidance seriously.  However, this time, I merely responded with, “It’s ok.  My Meditation Masters and Angels will protect me.”   However, if I had known what was to come, I would have heeded the warning.

I continued on, pacing past the elegant pastel coloured homes, watching the birds arcing in the breeze, and enjoying the stillness. Strangely, I noted, there was nobody else around.  Normally, on Saturday mornings, Tony and I would walk past small groups of people enjoying exercise time together.  We would always ring out, “Good Morning!  How are you?” and continue past, heading in different directions.  However, today, all was unusually quiet.

Turning at the lighthouse, I began to wind my way back.  I was heading west; close to the water’s edge, and happily repeating a mantra my meditation teacher had given to me. The mantra, “Om Namah Shivaya” means, “I bow to the light within me.” Suddenly, I heard someone calling. Turning, I saw a short, dark man, dressed in fatigues and wearing aviator shades.  He was on the other side of the road, standing next to his car, straightening up, hastily after rearranging something on the back seats.  He called out, “Do you know where Winton Highway is?”

Taking him in, I knew that he was pretending to be lost. And I knew that my life was in extreme danger. My heart pounding and intent on protecting myself, I pointed to the direction of Winton Highway.  Continuing in the opposite direction, I began walking as fast as I could toward a house nearby with an idea to enter the gate as if I lived there, and consequently seek safety.

Unfortunately, with my back to the road, this was not meant to be.  In the next instant, I felt a sickening thud in my lower back.  I was thrown upward, coming down on a metallic surface, and finally landed on all fours in the road.  Stunned for several seconds, I could not fathom what had just happened.  Then I turned to see my assailant and understood.   He had driven his car into my back with full force.

Staggering to my feet, the man lunged forward.  Locking his hands with mine, he angrily yelled, “GET IN THE CAR!”

Although terrified, something surreal began to happen.  First, I could feel an energy beginning to build inside my body.  Beginning at the base of the spine, and pushing its way upward, it was the most overwhelming fear I had ever experienced in my life.  My knees almost buckling, I knew if I gave in to the fear, my life would be over.

I became aware that I was faced with two options. Either succumb, or try and fight. Astonishingly, as that awareness dawned, I began to feel something else. Underneath the fear was another force that felt completely expansive, limitless and infused with incredible power. I recognized it immediately as a quality of presence I had always felt in the company of my Enlightened Teachers. With the power and courage of that recognition, I yelled, “NO!  It’s not my time. There is more I have to do!”

Grappling back and forth, I bit the man on the hand and yelled, “OM NAMAH SHIVAYA!” and with that, the assailant dropped my hands, ran back toward his car and took off at high speed.  A kind, local man, who lived nearby and had heard my screams earlier, had driven out to investigate and was now in pursuit.  Residents also appeared and began to take care of me.

All these years later, this experience signifies a turning point in my life.  It served to crystallise an awareness, that even in the most terrifying of circumstances, we are always protected.  I came to know that we can draw on inner strength in any terrifying situation.  Secondly, and importantly, it brought to light the truth- life can be over at any moment.

Since that day, I listen much more intently to my inner guidance, particularly those messages that offer warnings.  I have also learned to listen to my heart and act on inner directives pointing to new opportunities and goals for my life.  I have learned to trust the wisdom of my heart and not assume I have plenty of time.  I no longer put things off.  I realise, I can’t afford to.  I have to live my life honouring what I have been given and making sure I do everything I have been asked to do.  After all, my life is my gift back to the grace that saved me.

© Copyright Julie A Hoyle.

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