Hockey Pucks and the Mystery of Providence

The greatness of God is a glorious and unsearchable mystery. ‘For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great king over all the earth’ (Ps. 47:2). The condescension of the most high God to men is also a profound mystery. ‘Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly’ (Ps. 138:6). But when both these meet together, as they do in this Scripture, they make up a matchless mystery. Here we find the most high God performing all things for a poor and distressed creature.

It is the great support and solace of the saints in all the distresses that befall them here, that there is a wise Spirit sitting in all the wheels of motion, and governing the most eccentric creatures and their most pernicious designs to be blessed and happy issues. And, indeed, it were not worth while to live in a world devoid of God and Providence.

So began the Puritan divine, John Flavel, on his discourse concerning Divine Conduct or the Mystery of Providence Opened. Both the person and work of God are mysteries to humanity. The very nature of the Triune Godhead is far beyond all of our simple comprehension. Even more so, that this great and mysterious God should stoop down to low and helpless creatures. As Flavel has noted, It is a matchless mystery to find the most high, holy and perfect Lord of All reaching down to poor dejected sinners.

And although this is an immutable mystery it nonetheless remains a source of comfort and condolence for weary sinners. This is so because the Spirit is continually in the fray of everyday life. We are not left alone to ourselves, but are constantly guided, protected and cared for through the secret workings of the Holy Spirit. He works in all situations to bring about good and happy things for those who love him (Rom. 8:28).

Having said that, I want to apply God’s mysterious providence to an Albany River Rats hockey game. How so? Work was giving out free tickets to the Rats hockey game (they are the AHL affiliate for the New Jersey Devils). Last night I took Calvin out with me for our first father and son outing to a hockey game. The Pepsi Arena in Albany holds about 17,000 but only a little over 5,000 showed up for the game. I think the Rats are last place in their division.

After two periods of play the Rats were up 2 to 1 against the Manchester Monarchs. They were loosing going into the final two minutes of the second period when they scored two goals within 30 seconds of each other. It was pretty exciting to watch. As time was ticking of the clock and as we were about to head to intermission I caught something spinning toward us out of the corner of my eye. It was too late to react. Before I even knew what happened Calvin, who was sitting on my lap, had fallen over and began to cry.

It took a second to figure out what had happened and then I saw the puck laying there on the floor. I immediately pulled him up and took a look. The puck hit him right on the right hand-side temple just missing the eye. Before I was able to stand up there was an Arena security guard coming down the stairs to take us out. Calvin was still crying and my heart was beating as we ran up the stairs toward the EMS station. Like any parent would, I feared the worst.

About half way to the EMS station (only about 3-4 minutes after he was hit) he stopped crying and settled down although he was still holding on to me tightly. After arriving at the EMS station they checked him out and it seemed for the most part that it was just a flesh wound. For the first 10 minutes he wasn’t saying anything and I couldn’t get him to respond to me. Of course, that made me nervous thinking at the least he had suffered a concussion. I had him get up and walk and as soon as he didn’t have ten people hovering over him he began chatting all about what had just happened and started to run around everywhere.

After about a half hour down in the EMS station he appeared to be fine. He was playing with his new souvenir, an official River Rats game puck taken right of the ice. It was still cold when he got it. It is his war souvenir. We went to Albany Med just to make sure everything was okay and he checked out fine. As a side note, the EMS personnel at the Arena and the doctor at Albany Med were great. In short, my son who was hit in the head with a hockey puck only has a small abrasion and a mild bruise.

The providence of God is ultimately an inextricable mystery to us. His ways are far above our ways. The secret things of the Lord belong only to him. I don’t ultimately know why that is an arena that holds 17,000 people my son had to be hit. I had just switched him from one side of my lap to the other not even five minutes before. If I had not switched him the puck would have just bounced of my chest. Or why did I not see it sooner and move him out of the way or block it with my hand? Thankfully the security guard said that he saw it bounce twice before it hit Calvin. I did not even see it until it was too late. Why in the mystery of God’s providence did a hockey puck bounce out of the rink and strike my two year old son?

Yet, upon further reflection the question which I really have to ask, the question which Flavel pondered is why in the mystery of God’s providence did He so orchestrate the event to protect my son from more serious harm? The mysterious providence of God truly is a divine solace and comfort for lowly creatures who do not deserve the mercy of God. He has shown his gracious hand to our family in protecting my son last night. Sadly, I too often fail to thank the Lord for his continual and secret care over us.

One more thought which has been deeply impressed upon me from this event is my complete inability to protect my children. This is a terrifying, frustrating and humbling realization. As a parent, particularly as a father, I want to be in control when it comes to protecting my children. When the possibility of such protection is out of my hand I get angry and extremely frustrated. I hate the fact that I did not see the puck sooner or that I could not do anything to prevent it from hitting my son. Yet, in an amazing way that is exactly where the Lord wants us. It took my son getting nailed in the head with a hockey puck for me to realize that ultimately I cannot protect him but that I am to entrust my son to the Lord’s care for he loves him more than I ever could and he will protect him better than I ever could imagine. This is a terribly humbling thought. But as Flavel wrote, “it [is] not worth while to live in a world devoid of God and Providence.” Praise be to the Lord most high who gives life and watches over it. Blessed be the name of the Lord.