Jesus said in John 10:16 NIV, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen…” If you are a professional Bull Rider and you lay it all on the line every time you mount a bull, you are one different sheep. Most Oklahomans love the Bull Riding event. But, for Casey’s daddy (who was a champion team roper and former bull fighter/clown) and mom, each trip to the arena, brings a dry gulp. “You see that boy over there?” says Ralph. “The reason why he’s alive is because he is showered in prayer continuously.”
Being alive is something that is somewhat of a success, considering this ride Casey had last Saturday night in McAlester, Oklahoma.
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I stopped by Casey’s house on Monday to pray with him. “He had a pretty good wreck. After seeing the video, it’s a wonder it isn’t worse or that he’s even alive.”
“Aw Dad, it wasn’t that bad.” said Casey, as he drew back the blankets on his fence post bed. “See, just one scratch here and one behind my ear.”
I drew a breath as I saw the roadrash scrape on the calf of his right leg from the back of his knee to the top of his ankle. “The part that hurts is the knee. Look, Mark…” as he puts both his knees together, “…see how that one is so much bigger? They tell me it might be an ACL, but they won’t know until I get the swelling down so they can look at it. I’m not looking forward to that.”
Casey’s scratch behind his ear is a cut which took seven stitches to pull the scalp back together among his curly brown hair. Just the latest among previous injuries: broken wrist, broken pelvis, broken back, concussions, dislocations, a rupture here, and cut there. All a part of the bull riding trophy case.
With boyish freckles and a smile of a real cowboy, we grabbed hands together and prayed, “Thank you, Lord for this day.” Just another day for a cowboy with crosses on his chaps.
Take a minute and add to the shower of prayers for Casey, won’t you? Thanks.
How much fault was the “let out” guy and how much on the pink shirted bullrunner (er ah) Bullfighter?