Bicyclist saved by helmet—and God’s love

(This personal story came to me from a reader of this blog... He tells me he sustained several broken ribs and a broken (four places) collar bone.)

My bicycle and I were picking up speed. It was a little after two on Saturday afternoon, August 23. I was on Business Loop I-196, just past Paw Paw Drive, heading back to Zeeland. Suddenly my front wheel found its way into a two-inch gap between the asphalt shoulder and the concrete of the traffic lane.

The next thing I knew I was in the fetal position on the concrete of the traffic lane, unable to move back to the relative safety of the shoulder. But I was alive. A miracle? Had God spared me for some reason only God knew? Problem was that the God in my life doesn’t do things like that. So I figured I was alive because I had the God-given good sense to wear a helmet. Yet I still felt pretty much alone.

Then I heard someone yell, “Call 911!” and other voices nearer by saying things like, “Don’t move him” and “Don’t take his helmet off.” I could see dozens of feet and legs gathered around me. I thanked them, to which one replied something like, “We saw you fall, Of course we stopped. We couldn’t just leave you here.” Suddenly I wasn’t alone. God was there, in their care and concern. I mustered the strength to lift my head to see their faces. I thanked them again; again they assured me thanks were unnecessary. And again I saw in their faces the face of God.

I wasn’t alone. Nearest to me were a young Hispanic couple and their twin toddlers. As the husband saw my wife being escorted to the scene, he went to her and, not an English speaker, mimed that I had flown over my handlebars and landed on my head. Then (and here was God again) he tented his fingers, tipped his head, and said, “We pray.” Soon the equally caring medics arrived. On the gurney heading for the ambulance, I could see that the people who had come to my aid had parked their cars in such a way as to shield me from oncoming traffic. Another act of God’s love!

God’s love continued to show itself through the concern of the health care professionals, my wife and other relatives, people of my church and other friends. I am now more convinced than ever that our best prayers of intercession are acts of love. When others care, it is God among us. We are not alone.

Terry VandeWater
Zeeland, MI

Hope you are feeling better soon Terry........ barry e