Wendell Arnold’s autobiography, FROM THE COTTON PATCH TO Ph.D., GOD’S MANAGEMENT OF MAN THROUGH THE EYES OF A SCIENTIST, reads more like a novel and will keep you on the edge of your seat.  Stories I have heard all my life still gripped me like I’d never heard them before, and as I read the pages I couldn’t help but envision the events like they were right there happening, like has never happened before.  Here is one of those stories:

We had now been skiing several years and thought we were invincible.  We loved to ski in the trees and see how deep we could sink into the powder.  We would wind our way parallel to the mountain to find nests of trees to go through.  Carolyn was leading the way and came upon a ridge that was very icy.  She leaned over to survey whether or not it could be negotiated on skis.

We were skiing with the old bindings that had leather safety straps.  In subsequent years, the manufacturers came out with safer bindings that would release your ski and still it stayed behind in the snow.  She kept leaning over to make sure we could manage it and she started sliding.  It wasn’t very long before she was out of control falling end over end.  Her skis were banging against her head and body.  She lost her poles, hat and sunglasses.  We stood at the top of the hill and peered down at the vertical icy slope.  We could see Carolyn at the base of the mountain.  She appeared lifeless and she was face down in the snow.  We wanted to reach the base as quickly as possible but we knew the vertical drop was impossible to ski.  We did not want to end up in the condition she was in so we took off our skis and walked down between the trees to reach Carolyn.

“Carolyn,” I yelled.

No answer.  My pulse was racing.  I began to think about the skier who had been killed the week before at this same resort.  He had done some stupid trick and lost control and hit a tree.  We learned later that the ski patrol had marked the area off limits with a rope and signs saying no skiing.  We stupidly had entered the area just below the signs.

As we made our way through the trees, we could see one of her ski poles stuck in the icy mountain.  It looked as if someone had driven a ski into a wall.  I looked at Carolyn and I couldn’t tell if she had any broken bones.  I was very concerned that she might have a broken neck.  I knew that time was of the essence but I also knew we couldn’t be reckless as we continued through the trees.

Her face was turned to the side and I could see that she was not in danger of suffocating.  Thank God, I prayed, but where are the angels that were supposed to be riding on her shoulder?

As we reached Carolyn’s side I asked, “Are you okay?”  She replied just like a tough Oklahoman, “I am okay.  I have a busted lip and feel as if I can hardly walk, but it could be much worse.”

As we went on to the bottom of the mountain we all decided that we would pack it in for this ski trip.  The other two couples were leaving that evening and I felt Carolyn was much more shaken than what she acknowledged.  As we sat in the condo watching TV we both thanked God that the accident had not turned deadly.

Wendell goes on to tell the events of that particular evening and what happens next is a jaw dropping, unbelievable, give you the goosebumps kind of story.  It leaves him convinced that miracles do occur to common people who believe in a superior power or being.

Wendell  and Carolyn experienced much activity throughout the past 52 years and he writes about many amazing, exciting times in his book, FROM THE COTTON PATCH TO Ph.D., GOD’S MANAGEMENT OF MAN THROUGH THE EYES OF A SCIENTIST.  In addition, Dr. Arnold tells about his childhood, growing up picking cotton and being from a family of nine kids whose parents were share croppers.  An intriguing story, a must read, and you can order your signed copy at wendellarnold.com!

Also available at xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and on the kindle, nook and google e-book.  Telephone orders may be placed by calling (866) 909-BOOK (2665).  But the only place you can order a signed copy is wendellarnold.com!

CLICK HERE TO READ CHAPTER ONE