I was riding along on my bike with its finely tuned brakes, and was zipping my phone into my bike bag when I spied an elderly man biking towards me on my side of the path. Well, okay, it was technically ME who was on HIS side of the path, but why quibble over details?
I braked with one hand since the other hand was fiddling with the phone. Unfortunately, I gripped the front wheel brake as hard as I could, and it was very responsive. It slammed the front of my bike to a sudden stop, hurling me onto the handlebars, and then the pavement. I haven't crashed on a bike in 35 years!
I was lucky, if you believe in luck. It could have been MUCH worse. My knees were bruised and skinned, but my hands, and head escaped unscathed. My rib just under the mastectomied breast took a pounding, and it hurt quite a bit. I don't think I broke it...but I sure bruised it. The poor man kept trying to blame himself as he helped me up and righted my bicycle. (For the record, I didn't even try to stand up for several minutes.)
"No, please don't blame yourself," I told him, rising shakily to my feet, "This is completely my fault. I should not have been focused on putting my phone in the bag. I should have been watching the road."
Gasping with pain, I called my radiation nurse after pedaling to a nearby bench.
"Kitty, I did something really stupid and am wondering if I am able to radiate a badly bruised rib? Possibly a broken one." I was due for my daily radiation dose in two hours.
She told me to come in early and the doc would assess. She also urged me to be gentle on myself. I guess she saw no good purpose in berating myself for foolishness.
But it was foolish and I learned a lesson. Keep my hands on the wheel (handlebars) and my attention on the task at hand. No texting while biking. No doing anything while biking except enjoying the scenery and being alert. Unlike in the photo below where I took a selfie of me on my wonderful folding bike.
However, no more selfies on my bike unless I am standing still, no matter how well they make important adjunct illustrations to my blog. Stay focused and keep the main event the main event.
I am lucky I didn't blow out my new breast implant. The poor breast has had enough problems with cancer and two operations. It sure didn't need a bruising bike crash as well. One inch higher where I smashed into the handlebar, and I am pretty sure the new breast would have exploded. The doc agreed. I was saved by an inch, and didn't deserve God's mercy at all. Yet, there it was.
God was warning me, as I have gotten lax about fiddling with my phone while biking. After all, what could happen? I am only two feet from the ground on a bike, and I never go fast. Well, I saw what could happen. I was spared the most dire consequences, but it could have been very terrible. Imagine me sprawled on the Greenway, pieces of my new breast scattered all about me.
The Bible is full of warnings to be alert. We are not to let our guard down, and we are to be prepared always. Jesus will return at any time, and He should find us doing what we should be doing, with expectant and purposeful living for Him. We should not be distracted by the things of this world. We should be watchful. He could return at any moment and we should think about what He will find us doing...or not doing.
In other words, pay attention! Focus on doing the right thing, always prepared for whatever may come your way. Be actively seeking righteousness, and flee from evil.
While resting from my injuries, and groaning, I got a text from my friend about a mama I work with who was struggling to make ends meet. The mama had chosen life over abortion, but often needed help from Cities4Life supporters. This particular friend who texted is helping to get the mama to her doctor appointments. With her new baby, she can't yet work, and food for her family is in short supply. I hadn't known the mama was struggling with the matter of food. She had never told me that.
"What can we do?" asked my friend. "My heart hurts for her!"
Praise God, I have a contact with one of the most amazing ministries in the area - Common Cupboard. They provide a full month of food each month to families that demonstrate need. The only problem with reaching families in need is they have a shortage of volunteer drivers. My volunteer instantly told me she would drive the food to my mama each month. I set it up, and within ten minutes, we had an emergency month of food set to be delivered by my volunteer to this mama today! I almost forgot how much my ribs hurt, since my heart was bursting with praise and joy over this wonderful volunteer, this incredible ministry, and a very dire need completely met!
Back to my ribs. The nurse looked over my injury. Since there was little visible bruising, she told me it probably was not broken, I could do radiation as scheduled, and take Aleve all weekend to reduce swelling and pain. I took a pill right after my appointment, and it worked instantly. I was tempted to text everyone while driving about the miracle of Aleve. We all know how stupid that would be.
Stay alert, friends! Jesus is coming soon. Are we busy doing what He would have us do without losing focus?
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We are often in need of drivers to deliver food to these brave mamas. It is a once a month commitment, and results in wonderful opportunities not only to serve the poor as Jesus commands us, but to become a mentor and change a young family's destiny spiritually and practically.
http://commonheart.org/
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Ephesians 6:18
Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and
supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making
supplication for all the saints,
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded,
set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the
revelation of Jesus Christ.
For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will
come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace
and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor
pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are
not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of
the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do,
but let us keep awake and be sober. ...
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