Peachtree Road Race Prayer

Wednesday, July 4th,2001, my daughter, Melinda, and I ran/walked the Peachtree Road Race. Even though we've participated in other Peachtree's, this one will always be special because of God's divine intervention.

During the fifth mile near 17th Street, we noticed an emergency vehicle stopped on the right side of the road with its lights flashing. I approached the scene with a heavy heart, knowing that last year Alvin Gaines had a heart attack and died within the same mile. My daughter, who is a heart echo technician in Henry County ran ahead to check on the situation. She saw a runner laying in the road being given medical attention. Realizing that this was a life or death situation she ran back to me and said "Daddy, we need to stop and pray right now. There is a man unconscious and in critical condition." So we stopped running, moved to the side of the road right behind the ambulance and begin to pray in "Jesus name" for the unknown man, his family, and the medical team giving assistance.  

When we completed our prayer, made our way back into the race and around the ambulance, Melinda said "Look daddy he has been revived. Praise the Lord." As if to validate what had just happened, a spectator in the crowd chased us down and said "Did you see what happened? The minute you stopped praying, the man was revived. Praise the Lord."  

There is nothing special about us. There was nothing special about our prayer. There was nothing special about the unconscious man. However, there is something special about the One to whom we prayed. Jesus said it best, "...with men, it is impossible, but not with God: for with God, all things are possible." Mark 10:27b 

We don't know Don Plunckett or if he knows Jesus, but we hope to meet him soon and tell him that Jesus loves him and has a wonderful plan for his life. 

Earl E. Hardy
Atlanta, GA.  (USA)