Since we have come to Alaska, the local news has reported, (among other deaths), death by bear, death by rolling rock, death by falling ice (from a glacier), death by private airplane crash, death by skydiving, and death by drowning.
Fortunately, the biggest challenge we have faced is to avoid being hit by one of the many who ride a bicycle on the shared paths we use with walkers and joggers. It's not that hard, now that we have gotten used to it---we just listen for the warning from behind "bike on your left". We stay in place and then the biker speeds by.
Unfortunately, I witnessed a collision one day between a biker and walker. No one was injured, but feelings on both sides were hurt: "You idiot!!!" screamed the fallen biker when the walker hesitated and veered to the left. "I always make bad choices" said the young man who was also lying on the ground and gently using both hands to clap against his head. By the time I got closer to comfort the young walker, both the biker and I realized he had some learning disabilities. I told him it took me awhile to learn the "rules of the road". The biker, embarrassed by his outburst and confident that the walker was okay, left the scene.
This episode reminded me of the proverbs (16:32, 19:11) and the Letter to James (1:19) which warn us to "be slow to anger". We all get angry sometimes, without knowing the whole story. But this bible injunction says (to me) to get the facts before getting angry and maybe I won't be as angry.
John
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