BY RICHELLE THOMPSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEBANON -- A year ago, Jim VanDeGrift was searching for his way.
He had enjoyed a successful career, setting record after record as football coach at Lebanon High School. He raised three children and dabbled in politics, winning a Turtlecreek Township trustee seat in 1991 and again four years later.
Jim VanDegrift credits his faith in God in helping him to deal with severe burns a year ago.
(Gary Landers photo)
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After retiring from the school district in 1994, Mr. VanDeGrift knew God had a plan for him. He just didn't know how to carry it out. The answer came in a ball of flames June 5, 1997.
A tractor accident nearly killed him. Fire ate at his skin and tore into the fatty tissue. But it failed to destroy his spirit. Twelve months of painful rehabilitation later, some open wounds and scars remain.
But for the man affectionately known as "Vandy," the accident has given him a way to tell people about God, about the good Word and about miracles. In more than 30 speeches since January, politicians and business leaders, kids and Christians have listened spellbound to his recounting of the day death knocked and God answered.
Mr. VanDeGrift asked God to take him that June day as he lay burning in a ditch along Ohio 123. His old farm tractor had malfunctioned and sprayed him with gasoline. Then it ignited.
The pain was unbearable.
Doctors told Rosie VanDeGrift her husband -- with second- and third-degree burns over more than 70 percent of his body -- might not make it through the night.
She prayed. So did his family. His church. The community. More than 2,000 cards flooded their mailbox. Former students wrote to say thanks. Friends said God must have a reason for what happened. It's hard for the 59-year-old Warren County man to consider the accident was part of God's plan. It's incomprehensible to Mr. VanDeGrift that there is anything holy in the intense pain that still haunts him.
Even a year later, he must massage the damaged tissue every day so it doesn't build up and cripple his joints. Mr. VanDeGrift wears a full-body pressure suit that looks like a giant Ace bandage and a clear plastic mask over his face to keep the scarred skin smooth. But he believes his ministry since the accident has been guided by a higher power.
Mr. VanDeGrift will tell anyone of his many blessings. He wore gloves and glasses that tragic day, which saved his hands and eyes. The accident occurred on a busy street; people found him quickly. Lebanon was close to Miami Valley Hospital, with one of the best burn units in the Midwest. It didn't happen until his children were grown, and he was retired. God had a hand in all of this, he said.
Still, it took him nearly six months to figure out what to do next.
On a winter Sunday, Jim and Rosie VanDeGrift took to the pulpit of their church, Lebanon Presbyterian. In expressing his appreciation for all their help, Mr. VanDeGrift found his calling.
"It gave me an uplift to convey to others the blessings the Lord has given to us since the accident," Mr. VanDeGrift said.
After such an incident, most people would give in to anger and resentment, church member Abby Davey said. It's an inspiration to hear someone who hasn't blamed God or wallowed in "Why me?". "It gives people hope that you can focus on the blessings instead of the negatives," she said.
Mr. VanDeGrift won't let himself play the what-if game. He keeps his schedule full with volunteer work and community activities. An idle mind would allow the constant pain to surface.
He's sure to visit friends in the hospital -- an act he used to avoid. Now Mr. VanDeGrift knows how much it means for somebody who is hurting to see a smiling face.
Mr. VanDeGrift views each day as a gift. He and his wife make sure to always kiss goodbye, to frequently express their love.
"We realize now there might be a time when one of us doesn't make it back," Mrs. VanDeGrift said.
A gentler spirit has settled over Mr. VanDeGrift, who for years commanded high school students with an expectation of excellence. Mr. VanDeGrift is more willing to stand on the sidelines and let people come to him rather than direct all the plays, Mrs. Davey said. Still, he is affecting lives with his message of hope and faith.
The accident changed Mr. VanDeGrift. Death can't come within a whisper without leaving a mark.
"Occasionally, I still fight the fire," he said. "But I refuse to let it relate to me. I refuse to let it consume me. I am blessed."
