It was a clear and unseasonably warm late January afternoon in 2015. I had decided it would be a good day to ride my horse, Megan. She was a registered 11-year quarter horse mare and stood at 16 hands. I was 63 years old.

She had a good disposition when I purchased her in the Flint Hills of Kansas in late 2013. She was advertised as a pasture ornament, nice to look at, but another horse to feed. That disposition would change.

I had grown up riding horses, including galloping. Unbeknownst to me and the very experienced horseman who came with me to look at her, Megan had an issue with anything beyond a walk.

Megan’s registered paperwork was impressive, and the purchase price seemed to be a bargain (later to become a very costly bargain). So, without taking a “test ride” (first mistake) we loaded her on a trailer and brought her to the corral I had built near Denison, Kan. It was at the home of our daughter, Lindsey, and her family. We all loved her but couldn’t understand why she didn’t like to gallop.

On that afternoon in Jan. 2015, after hearing all types of advice from other horsemen, I was determined I could get her to cooperate. (Second mistake: horses are bigger than people.) I decided to ride over the hill onto a neighbor’s land.

I rode to the end of the field and then turned back to go to the corral. I encouraged Megan to gallop. The next thing I remember is being in the air looking up at a beautiful clear blue sky. I was puzzled as to why I was suddenly up there because, having been bucked off horses in years past, I didn’t sense this one coming. I later found that the left stirrup had broken off the saddle fender.

Landing on hard ground, I did not instinctively roll my body. I heard a crunch. That crunch was 16 fractures on the 11 ribs on my right side, a broken right collarbone, a collapsed right lung, and a fractured vertebra, which was not initially diagnosed. The pain was excruciating. I couldn’t get up. I knew I was in trouble.

By God’s grace, my flip phone was still in the pocket of my overalls. Ten miles from any cell phone tower and flat on my back, I was able to reach 911. I gave them my name, the physical address, and what had happened. I then called my wife, Carol. She heard “hurt” and that I was at Lindsey’s home. She came as fast as she could (our home was 11 miles away). Lindsey had arrived home and saw Megan standing by the corral with the saddle upended. Carol realized why I had called her, and they began to look for me.

As the shock of the injuries began to settle into my body, I remember having peace and not panic. I knew God was caring for me and felt that my Winchester, Kan., RPC family would be praying for me. Carol had indeed called our pastor, Kyle Borg, when in the first 15 minutes she and Lindsey could not find me. Hearing EMS sirens, I called 911 again and gave directions to help them find me, which happened quickly.

A helicopter landed, and I was taken to a Topeka hospital. I remember being brought out of sedation and speaking to the trauma doctor, with Carol and Lindsey present.

The first few days on the trauma floor were a fog due to intense pain medications. I didn’t remember Carol spending those first nights with me.

By day six at the hospital, I was on my feet walking down the hall with the aid of a nurse. By day eight, I was transferred to a rehab center, where for seven days I received excellent care that included several types of therapy, especially respiratory therapy. By God’s grace, I did not contract pneumonia.

I knew that one of the ways I could recover was not to focus too much on myself. I began to focus on the staff and meet other patients. Instead of watching TV, I listened to playlists of the Psalms and Christian music that our oldest daughter, Heather, had compiled. A visit from our youngest daughter, Katie, was encouraging, as she had traveled from Detroit, Mich.

By day 14, on pain meds, wearing pain patches on my ribs, my right arm in a sling, I was able to move about without the aid of a wheelchair. Carol and I were reluctantly told by the rehab administrator that I met health insurance criteria so I could be released for home healthcare. We were told to watch out for intestinal blockage.

After 10 days of home care, I knew I was still in trouble. I was admitted to our local hospital with severe blockage in my intestines due to the large doses of pain medication. After several days of procedures, my doctors discussed surgery. Again, by God’s grace and a multitude of prayers, surgery did not happen, normality returned, and I came home after being there for a week.

I have not been on a horse since, in deference to my family’s wishes.

I have pondered God’s work of providence through these events. I am thankful I survived my injuries. It could have turned out much differently. As I recall many events in my life, I will never fully understand the marvelous tapestry that God planned and painted for me. I do know that “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). Not some things, but all things—hard providences, as well as good.

Our Savior, Christ Jesus, cares for and prays for His sheep. Our helper, the Holy Spirit, aids us, is our succor, convicts us of our daily sin, and guides us to understand and to apply Scripture to our lives.

So what was Megan’s problem? After observing her back line and talking it over with my farrier and other horsemen, I began to realize that she had a disc problem in her back just ahead of her hips that caused her discomfort when saddled and ridden hard. There are veterinarians who practice chiropractic care for horses. I chose not to go that route as the expense would have been significant.

Megan was able to have a foal from a grulla stallion, and we named her Lilly. When Lilly needed to be weaned, I sold her to the owners of the grulla. I then sold Megan to a reputable horse trader, giving him the information about Megan’s condition. I knew that she would never be ridden again.

Experiencing God’s provision in a special way changes our perspective on life. But we should not cling to those experiences as the only watermarks in our Christian life. God’s mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:22–23). The best days in our lives should be weekly worship and fellowship with other believers on the Sabbath.

Some accidents do not turn out well for believers. Their families may face years of difficult care. God’s special grace is sorely needed in those trials.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism answer 11 as to the works of God’s providence states, “God’s works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions” (Ps.145:17, Ps. 104:24, Heb. 1:3, Neh. 9:6, Eph 1:19–22; Ps. 36:6, Prov. 16:33, Matt. 10:30).

We do not know nor should we seek to fathom God’s secret will. As we endure hard providences or enjoy special happy occasions or live out our daily lives, we need to continue to search the Scriptures, pray fervently, seek to live joyously, testify to others, and look up in faith at God’s blue sky.

Dr. Andrew Davis, in an essay in the Feb. 2024 Tabletalk devotional entitled “The Self-Disclosure of God,” writes,

“God deeply desires to open His mind to His chosen people. This self-revelation is of the essence of our salvation. As Jesus Christ said, ‘And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus whom you have sent’ (John 17:3). Abraham was called God’s friend (Isa. 41:8). Essential to friendship is self-disclosure. God wants to explain himself to us and I believe that heaven will be an eternal education of the people of God in the mind and purposes of God. How astonishing that will be. God has ruled over the rise and fall of every nation that has ever existed, as well over the fall of a single sparrow to the ground. There will be limitless things to learn about the complex dimensions and details of the sovereign plan of God. And it will be His delight to teach us and our delight to learn and to marvel.

At present, most of God’s counsels are hidden from us. Jesus said, ‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now’ (John 16:12). Some of the most complex and painful of God’s judgments must be withheld until our glorified minds can handle those truths. But God’s plan will be further revealed, and it will be radiantly glorious.”