TODAY’S BIBLE VERSE
Good Samaritan in a minivan
Recently I was riding my Harley VRod motorcycle east on Quince Road. As I turned on Perkins, the heavy riding jacket I had attached to my luggage rack slid off my bike and got pulled in by the wide rear tire. It wedged itself between my big fat rear tire and the frame of my motorcycle.
When that happens, your rear tire locks up and you skid to a stop, whether you want to or not. Luckily, I knew what to do and I was able to come to a safe stop. But I was unable to move my bike out of traffic because the rear wheel was locked, totally immovable.
I was in quite a predicament. Disabled and in the right lane of traffic, I was worried I might be hit by traffic. Then, someone pulled up behind me in a minivan and stopped to offer help. Stopping where he did, blocking traffic from potentially rear-ending me, he instantly provided me with the greatest relief.
He approached me and offered help. I wasn’t sure what was wrong or what needed remedy. But my new friend jumped in to help me figure out a solution. I explained my predicament and he helped me try multiple solutions to make my bike work again.
All told, he spent about 30 minutes helping me try everything we could think of. We used brute force, pocket knives, imagination, and engine power to finally work the obstruction from the rear tire. I was able to get out of danger and ride home.
I tried to offer my new friend $20, the only cash I had. He refused. I pushed my insistence past the point of obnoxious behavior until I realized I should stop. I shook his hand, asked his name and took some photos.
Oliver is now a great friend through total chance. I’m a big, ugly, white, shaved-head biker. I’m six feet tall, 300 pounds. Even though I’m a friendly guy, initial perceptions of me aren’t always receptive. Oliver is a workingclass black guy. He said he had been working on concrete construction near Kirby Parkway.
If I was driving down the road and saw a big ole burly white guy biker on the side of the road, I’m not sure I’d stop. Our world just isn’t that safe. If I saw a working-class black guy stranded on the side of the road, I’m not sure I’d stop either. But Oliver stopped to help me. Not only did he help me solve my problem, he helped me restore my faith in my fellow man.
He didn’t worry about black or white skin. He stopped to help. He taught me that I should think about my choices in a similar situation. Memphis has plenty of great people. I’m glad I met one. I’ll try to pay it forward.
Mike Zdancewicz, Memphis
In honor of Pfc. Baker
I recently attended a memorial service for Pfc. Theohs Baker, U.S. Army. His body was interred at the West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery. I was there with several other people who were wishing only to pay their respects to a veteran they did not know and a soldier who unfortunately did not have a family there to give a final goodbye.
Pfc. Baker deserved a fitting salute and thank you for his service to our country. Like all veterans who have raised their right hand and taken the oath of enlistment, Pfc. Baker wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America for an amount up to and including his or her own life.
When they removed the American flag from Pfc. Baker’s casket, I was shocked to see a simple pine box. Just a box, boards nailed together, because that is all his life ended with. He deserved so much more. We were not told how old he was, what units he had served with, or what his military specialty code was, just that he had earned a honorable discharge and was Email letters to letters@commercial appeal.com; mail Letters to the Editor, The Commercial Appeal, 495 Union, Memphis, TN 38103; or click on the “Submit Letter” link on the Opinion page atcommercialappeal.com. a fellow veteran. A veteran being buried in a simple pine box was just so emotionally sad for me to witness.
I believe I speak for most veterans when I say that we don’t want public praise for our service. The now almost rote “Thank you for your service” at the store’s checkout counter has become trite. And we certainly don’t appreciate being used as “backdrops” at some politically-motivated rally or parade down Pennsylvania Ave. What we do ask for is your genuine respect for our service. And, when in the absence of our families, as with Pfc. Baker, to please protect and maintain our final resting place.
Thank goodness for the West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery where every headstone is carefully protected, honored, and of equal height, regardless whether you were a private first class or a four-star general.
David Sims, Collierville For more commentary, go to commercialappeal.com/opinion/ May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us. Psalm 67:1
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