The rain finally let up. The hours of rain and wind had left its mark. Leaves and branch remnants from different trees formed contemporary designs along the road. As I road through the first design, I realized there was a new element of danger on the road – an invisible layer of slickness left after the leaves and branches had been pushed away.
As I approached the last straight stretch of road into the downtown business district, the morning traffic was no worse than normal. The one item of note and concern was the speed; everything was the same as it was on a bright sunny day. Pickering Street is tree lined and beautiful. The warning signs were there if you already knew, otherwise it was business as usual.
In the flow of traffic through a green light there was a sudden appearance of brake lights four cars in front. Vehicles slowed, parting as water would if there was a stump in the middle of the flowing river. In this case it was a motorcycle and rider lying horizontal in the 2nd lane. The rider was sitting on the road, nursing a sore arm. As I looked for an opportunity to stop, I spotted three individuals comings from different directions. Not one looked like a rider. Business trousers, smart dress, and formal shoes all spoke of executives working in a nearby building.
At the next light a fellow rider explained that a black Mercedes has swerved into the bike causing the accident. The driver apparently had now seen the motorcycle and rider. Although he was the 4th person running back to the scene, I was struck by the fact that the motorcycle rider was the innocent one, now suffering as a result. It is a situation that all of us have been in, metaphorically at least, at one time or another. When people are listening to the spirit within, good things follow. In days past, “God sent the king to release him. The Pharaoh set Joseph free.” (Psalm 105.20) On this day it was three strangers and more.
