After dinner, I decided to drive up to our local digital photo developer to have a batch of vacation pictures printed. I looked forward to seeing the over 150 pictures that I had selected. They were reminders of a great vacation with old friends as we toured the New England States. My spirits were high as I recalled this happy time together.
But as I came over the rise in the road I was confronted with a ghastly scene.
There on the road ahead of me, in the oncoming lane, was the body of a motorcyclist lying on the road. The ambulance attendants and police officers were covering his body with a white sheet, but underneath I could still see the outline of a young man whose life had suddenly come to an end. The road was completely blocked off. In the darkness of the night, emergency lights from at least six vehicles were flashing out their unsynchronized mournful message, “Stay away – someone has died here!”
I couldn’t help but think, it might be someone I know. Perhaps its a neighbour – or someone I’ve met. How long has he been lying there? Was he going home after a day’s work? Or perhaps he’s visiting a girlfriend. I imagined people become annoyed or anxious that he was late. How would they find out he wasn’t going anywhere anymore?
A thousand thoughts – but this deep sense of sadness that perhaps, like the many people I encounter every day, more than likely, he didn’t know Jesus.
This was a second very sad reminder in as many months just how short life can be. It was déjà-vu. I recalled the deep sorrow I experienced then when I encountered a similar scene; another motorcycle fatality, less than a kilometre away.
I remembered and renewed my commitment to be more deliberate in telling others the good new about Jesus.
Life is so short; so unpredictable!
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