Posted BY: J.B. Shurk
Have you ever been so beset by anguish, fear, or grief that you unconsciously dropped to your knees, interlocked your fingers, and began to pray? Even for people who never embraced religious faith, that instinct seems cemented deep in their souls.
When Damar Hamlin’s heart stopped beating and he lay motionless on the field during Monday Night Football’s matchup between the Bills and Bengals on January 2, the human instinct to reach for God became impossible to miss. Not only were the players of both teams falling to their knees with their hands clasped and lips quietly pleading for intercession, but also fans throughout Paycor Stadium could be seen on national television in deep and solemn prayer. It was soon clear that social media platforms had become inundated with emotional appeals directly to God, begging Him to intervene and save Hamlin’s life.
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In a time of social division and disintegration, rampant immorality, and intentional cruelty, Hamlin’s collapse may have led to the first moment since the 9/11 terrorist attacks twenty years ago when so many Americans, united in common purpose, bowed their heads and prayed together. When it finally became clear a full week later that the young player would not only live, but also most likely recover physically, Americans all over the country and from all walks of life knew they had witnessed something miraculous.
