March 13 - Dan Finney
Sunday after church, my son Brian wanted to sit with me on the front porch. As I looked across the yard to the neighbors my eyes were drawn to the tree I fell out of several years ago (I had cut down or topped several very tall trees around my yard so my neighbor (Tino) asked me to help with several of his also.) Reflecting on what happened I shared it with Brian. After a few moments of silence he said "Dad, you need to submit that as a God Moment". Wow, earlier that very morning after second service a brother asked me out of the blue "when are we going to see another God Moment from you" (Brian was not present). I said, "I just haven't felt compelled to share any lately". And now a few hours later, Brian is telling me I need to submit a God Moment. Well, I'd say I just shared a couple without even getting started.
Over the course of a couple weeks we cut down or topped several of his trees and came to the last one. When I climb trees it is always with fear and trepidation and I usually pray. I wonder now if I forgot to pray that day? As I positioned myself to cut the last top leader I thought my footing and balance was secure but I didn't make quite enough undercut and when the heavy top with momentum pulled on the remaining uncut portion and released, the tree movement got the best of me - with both hands still on the chainsaw my forward foot slipped. That is the last thing I remember until regaining consciousness. No, I was not on the ground - had that been the case it is highly unlikely I would have survived. This, as the others, was a Very tall tree.
The first thing my mind registered was the sound of Tino's voice screaming my name "Danny, Danny, Danny". Then I became aware I was ON MY BACK, balanced on a SINGLE branch lengthwise along my spine. I was not caught in a wedge or across several branches. At first, I could not move or speak. My face was numb and I was sure my nose was broken. Based on the pain in my back I thought that must be broke also. Incredibly, my mind had time to process this as I was perfectly balanced with my arms and legs hanging down. Then, I just reached over with one hand to a nearby branch to steady myself and gathered strength to get up without falling to my death. I had fallen 8 to 10'. Had I continued I would not have fallen to the ground, rather I was directly over the Peak of a wood shed with an extremely steep pitched roof.
It was very painful and slow getting myself down out of that tree but I was praising God all the way and knew it was a miracle to be alive. I could barely walk, my right leg was scraped up and bruised, hip and back out of place, face a mess, etc. Tino was beside himself still in panic while I was repeating "Praise the Lord", "Thank You Jesus", "Praise the Lord". How is it possible to do a somersault from the top of a tree and land on your back without falling off - even more so when knocked unconscious?
Just now, Brian came in and handed me one of my bookmarks from doing his clean up assignment - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6. I'll just leave it there.
Those who know me are welcome to come visit for an up close view and hear the longer version.