This was a line out of one of the Matrix movies. It seems very appropriate for this post. This is a touching story of both tragedy and triumph. Webster's defines comprehension as: 1 a : the act or action of grasping with the intellect : understanding b : knowledge gained by comprehending c : the capacity for understanding fully <mysteries that are beyond our comprehension>. Many times we don't comprehend what it is that's happening around us.

Back in late May, the 23rd to be precise, a very close friend and his wife were in the wrong place at the right time or the right place at the wrong time. They were enjoying a nice relaxing ride on their custom Harley trike on the outskirts of their hometown of Minneapolis. The trike was purchased for Judy who had developed bad back and neck problems and had difficulty riding her regular Harley. John had just purchased a trailer to tow behind and wanted to see how it felt riding with it before really using it on a long ride.

The day was like any other for them. They loaded "Mini" their family dog and threw their helmets in the trailer and took off.

Not long after is when the day went down a path that nobody would ever expect. They were cruising along a two lane highway doing about 60 MPH while coming the other direction a truck pulling an open trailer full of cord wood started losing it's load. The first two cars slowed and avoided the best they could and a third car for some reason just veered into the oncoming lane to avoid it. The Honda was doing about 60 MPH also... the witnesses said John, who was driving, appeared to do all he could to get out of the way but was unsuccessful. A 120 MPH impact ensued and Judy was thrust into John's back, off the bike into the windshield and into a grassy ditch. She was killed instantly. John, who is, pound for pound, one of the strongest guys I know, held onto the bike and absorbed the full impact. Who could survive that? John could and did.

John was about as close to death as one comes without giving up his spirit. He was semi conscience at the scene. After almost 3 hours of being attached to the bike and still holding on, they removed him and transported him to the hospital. He uttered 2 words that I know of..."Call Dick.", his brother.

Barely hanging onto life, the amazing medical staff went to work on him. The impact was about the same as someone falling from an airplane from 10,000 feet without a parachute. The litany of injuries included: massive head trauma with possible brain damage, 2 broken ankles, right one in two places, shattered pelvis, all the right side ribs broken, internal injuries (I don't remember exactly what, but miraculously not extremely severe considering), both badly broken wrists, again the right one in two places... and that's just what I can remember. The numerous surgeries began immediately.

We were informed through a friend and went into prayer instantly. We heard in the Spirit to pray against infections and for the brain injuries to heal. So into battle we went. This is where Romans 8:28 is so crucial to understanding accidents like this. God doesn't cause them, but He uses anything and everything for His good. Judy had a relationship with Jesus and having already lost a son to a horrific truck accident years before, was now where she had wanted to be ever since. Judy was full of life and enjoyed each and every day, but once she lost her son, she lost some of her zeal and was forever changed. I think you have to have lost a child to fully understand this. God knows though. John really didn't know the Lord. Oh, he went to church once and awhile and would do whatever his wife wanted to do about "religious" things... but he honestly had no idea what the Gospel was all about. But we know he was meant to, thus we know that God's hand protected him enough to bring him through this major ordeal with his life and full faculties in order to someday know Him.

We kept getting updates through some friends and we kept praying each and every day. The original evaluation and prognosis wasn't good. IF he survived all the surgeries, he was looking at major personality changes, not sure if he'd ever walk again, probably wouldn't be able to work again and was looking at 8-9 months in the hospital for recovery. That's if he made it. What we didn't know until much later was that surgeons fear infections more than anything after these surgeries. He had one that he fought off. They were constantly amazed at how well he would come through the long grueling operations. In the picture you see a man who was swelled to about twice his normal size. Up to about 230 lbs, compared to his normal weight of around 160. His body was in hyperdrive of healing. They induced a coma after he started coming out of his coma, because, and you have to know John, he wanted to get up and leave.

6 weeks later, a phone call comes. It's John and he starts telling me about having an accident and didn't make sense all the time... but his son gave him his phone back when he was brought out of the coma and he could work the buttons well enough.

Only 10 weeks in the hospital, John convinced the doctors he was ready to go home. They insisted on making sure he could function nominally on a daily basis and he proved he was ready, about 5 1/2 months ahead of what they originally thought. A mix of prayer and John's tenacity to beat all odds... paid off.

Skipping over many weeks of good, long conversations and lots of prayer... John came to a decision about his eternal life. On Judy's birthday, Aug. 28th, He asked God to come into his heart. When he informed us about it... he said something to the effect that he wasn't sure what it all meant. Thus, it reminded me that our comprehension is not prerequisite to our cooperation. It's a FREE gift to each and everyone of us who wants it. It's pretty simple.

John's hardships may endure for awhile, but he will return to work Sept. 28th, a feat that nobody gave any hope of just 3 months ago. John is walking again, with only the use of a cane, there are no signs of brain damage with the exception of a tad of memory loss of recent events and all internal injuries healed. He will carry many scars, pain and reminders of this May 23rd but only one is eternal. He will one day join his loved ones inside the Gates of Heaven for all eternity. That's a lock!

God Bless John and all his loving family who was there for him. We'd also like to call attention to and thank the many people who faithfully prayed for all the miraculous things, as John and Judy have lived all around the country they have made many friends and have large familys who we know we're lifting him in prayer. Because of all this, his son Justin lovingly gave up his own home as a rental for now, to move back in with his Dad to help him and be there for him. His daughter, Lonna is still living here in PA with John and Judy's two grandchildren, but she made the trek out there for the first few weeks to support her Dad. I will be driving out with a mutual friend to visit with John the 1st weekend of Oct. May this story touch all who read it with the love and peace that surpasses all understanding of our Father Yaweh. Blessings on all.