Today's the anniversary of the 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. Sad day in pop music history. Buddy Holly had an enormous impact on rock and roll in his all-too-brief time on this planet.
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A few news stories that came up recently made me think again how suddenly someone can be thrown into the midst of difficult or impossible circumstances, without warning or preparation.
One woman was driving along a Toledo street last month when she witnessed a rape being committed in broad daylight. She called 911 and the alleged rapist was caught within a few hours. But the woman who saw the crime said she has been haunted by it and has had trouble sleeping. She wishes she had intervened. Police said she did the right thing, however. It's best for citizens to call police rather than put themselves at risk. Still, a tough situation for anyone. And who knows how many people drove by without doing anything at all.
Second, a Fremont man was in his yard near the semi-frozen Sandusky River when he saw some children go through the broken ice. The man tried to rescue them by throwing the kids a rope but it was to no avail.
The man talked to a reporter, crying the whole time, about how he tried to help but could not save the boys. He said he is not a good swimmer, wished he could have done more. One boy survived but three drowned.
What a pressure situation to be in. What would anyone do? At least the man tried.

Two different scenarios, two innocent bystanders find themselves thrust into emergency scenarios -- one a horrible crime and the other literally a life-or-death moment. The memories of those moments will stay with these people for the rest of their lives.

I have no answers, just the observation that life is full of surprises that you cannot prepare for, except to do whatever you can when the situations arise.
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We're going to miss Kurt Warner on the football field. His story is unique and inspiring -- going from stocking shelves at a grocery store to throwing footballs for millions of dollars in the NFL and even winning the Super Bowl.
All the while, Warner was upfront and bold about his Christian faith, without being obnoxious. My wife Janet is one of his biggest fans, mainly because he's a fierce competitor, a good Christian man, and, as she points out often, he's good looking.