George Lucas' crash with destiny

Lucas on the set of 'American Grafitti'Forty-seven years ago today, an 18-year-old kid from Modesto, Calif., almost killed himself. Two days before his high school graduation, young George Lucas survived a high-speed, near-fatal car crash.

At the time, Lucas dreamed of becoming a race car driver. His brush with death inspired him to choose a somewhat safer career. He eventually went to the USC film school, became a filmmaker and later created some movies you might have heard of: "American Graffiti," the "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" series. In 2005, Forbes estimated his net worth at $3.5 billion.

Perhaps a car crash is God's way of telling you slow the heck down and reconsider your purpose in life. Hmmm. Or it could be His way of telling you to stop driving like a moron.

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)