The story below is some thoughts from Northern California member, Jason Lokkesmoe, after a serious crash he recently had on his bicycle.

John 10:10; from the words of Jesus, “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly”.

On September 15th, 2011 I was commuting home on a friends rain bike. I kept the pace high for my

sign with bicycle crashThe driver had been exhibiting some odd driving behavior, looking lost, and eventually pulled to the right of the road to stop. I naturally thought he was pulling over to figure out where he was going so I proceeded to pass him on the left at 40 mph. As I came to the trailer the driver’s true intentions became abundantly clear. He was in fact making an illegal u-turn in the middle of the street. I’ve had plenty of experiences on the bike with a good sense of my environment and always have an “Exit”. There was no “Exit”. I scrubbed as much speed off as I could with the milliseconds left but nothing was going to be enough.

I t-boned the truck’s front quarter panel at just under 40 mph summersaulted over the hood of his truck and came straight down landing on the ground head first, whipped around striking my heels with some additional tumbling to finally come to a skidding halt in the other lane of a blind corner. Through the entire experience I never lost conciseness. I was rushed to the ER where I would end up having extensive X-Ray’s and a CTScan done. 4 hours later I was released from the ER with no broken bones or a concussion. It was a Miracle! What I did have were some superficial wounds/road-rash, bruised ribs and heels, a strained right hand and a wealth of bruises. The bike too had a similar assessment as mine, some superficial damage with a dent to the Ti frame, wheels a little out of true but that’s about it.

While flying through the air I recall commenting to God with “Lord?”. I knew the likely outcome I was about to face was unfavorable coming down head first at that speed. My one word prayer was not out of fear or uncertainty but rather a surreal peace knowing and hoping He was in full control. When I came to the end I heard a clear thought inspired by the Holy Spirit, “Jason, you didn’t break anything. You’re going to be okay” as I was seeing stars. He was right as He always is though I struggle to believe on so many occasions. For all intensive purposes a crash like that warranted either a life-ending or life-altering ending.

When I arrived home at 12:30 am we ended up startling a probable burglar next to our home. The man quickly took off eventually jumping in a car a block behind us. I called 911 and right after I was put through to dispatch the guy in his car drove by and allowed me to catch his license plate.
Needless to say after all that had happened it wasn’t easy to fall asleep. I laid in bed and then the scripture “The thief comes only to steal (burglar), kill (me) and destroy (my family, bike, etc…); I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” came to mind. I sat with these familiar words with an entirely new perspective. Christ’s word that He came to give life and in abundance. I couldn’t help but weep. I was moved by being a recipient of this “life”, this “abundant life”.

Not just because I had be spared, though I’m incredibly thankful, but because of what Jesus offered me in that moment mid-air which was peace amidst the crazy and unknown outcome. I was out of control yet He was in full control. As most of us know far too well is that life is full of hardships, stresses and many burdens so Jesus’ offer of abundant, plentiful, large quantities of life in contrast to what the thief or this world has to offer is refreshing. Jesus’ words here in my personal experience does not ring hollow but full and true!

I know my comprehension of God and how He works is extremely limited. He is mysterious to me. But as He states in Jesus’ biography told by John in chapter 10; He is the Good Shepard who lays down and sacrifices His life for His flock, us.

Also stated well by Paul in Romans 5 that “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. Only out of the deepest and greatest of loves could this happen even while we were strangers to Him.

Lord that I may hunger and thirst for you and lean not into my own understanding but have faith in your unfailing love of me.

Humbled,
Jason

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