Bicycle Ride

Yesterday I had a wonderful bicycle ride down an ocean road. I often think when I'm riding my road bike that this must be what heaven is like, riding down a road on my bike, seeing birds and big sky, and feeling the ocean breeze. Perhaps it is that I hope that is what heaven will be like. Anyhow, as I took this ride and thought these upbeat thoughts, a fire rescue truck came by with the siren blazing. I felt a bit sad about this, knowing someone was having a problem somewhere, but I rode on. In about 6 miles, I came to the "scene" of the rescue. It appeared that a young, thin, attractive man on a three-wheeler had been hit. He was OK, but quite shaken, bruised, and a bit bloody. He was so grateful for the attention he was getting and the man who had clipped him was crying and saying, "sorry, so sorry, forgive me" over and over. All the while, the young man kept being cheerful and thankful for the attention. This young man is my unsung hero today. He was a mentally challenged gentle soul not at all thinking of himself, but of all those around him. Instead of anger, he showed love. He was brave. He was forgiving. I don't know if he understands his Christ-like presence. But I saw Christ in him, and felt grateful for that moment in time. Some of my happiness faded though in the face of the pain that I know he feels every day. Like Job, many challenges face this man. And, like Job, he seems to stay gracious. I am humbled in the face of this. Eph.4:31-32