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The true story about my broken back (at 18 years of age), by Ben Bonk ...
January 1st, 1975, I woke up Wednesday morning to see heavy wet snow outside my bedroom window. It wasn’t long till my buddies and I met for breakfast and talked about sledding and the such.
I had to be home by 4 that afternoon because my parents were having many guests over for amazing food and celebrating the new 1975. My parent’s Jesus loving testimony was very well known.
My buddies and myself agreed to see what we can find in the garage/shed at our friend’s house. Something that can be used for sliding down the hills.
I quickly discovered an old lid from a wringer washer machine which I knew would be better than perfect on the snow.
The 4 of us headed to Burnaby Mountain. It’s called a mountain yet it is only about 400 metres in height.
We parked our cars and walked to the snow covered hillside.
The hill that looked perfect would within a few hours bring me to a painful life changing breaking point in my life.
The 4 of us were having a great time with much laughter sliding down that hill.
The top of this hill had a snow covered sidewalk which made an ideal place for us to launch our sliding.
After a couple hours of this fun I couldn’t get my eyes off the primary hill that sloped steeply to the snow covered sidewalk and then continued onto the hill we were sliding down.
My first thought regarding the large hill was ‘what would everyone think of me if I slid down that hill using this washing machine lid.’
So I started walking and slipping while making my way up that hill. Once on top I then realized how high it was. Perhaps a bit too high.
I placed the lid on the edge that I would start from. I yelled several times “GET OUT OF WAY!” to those standing on the sidewalk separating the two hills.
I gave myself a gentle push and within seconds I realized how fast I was going. Plus sliding backwards made this a total out of control disaster.
Sliding uncontrollably I slid into a snow covered embankment which sent me into the air during which the lid I was sliding on left my grip.
I landed backwards on a steel drain grate tailbone first which sent a loud cracking sound to base of my skull. I screamed ‘MY BACK!!’ as I proceeded sliding down the 2nd hill on my now broken back.
I ended up amongst trees and bushes whilst yelling and crying.
My friends arrived and heard me yell ‘MY BACK.’ The pain was explosive. No idea what damage I caused to my back.
While laying on the snow, within my heart I started to scream at God. My anger was a Godless hell filled anger towards God.
My friends seeing me could not hear my rage but they saw my expression and tears.
I blamed God for:
Me being a crippled son for my parents.
Me losing my job.
Me losing my car.
And what will others think of me now.
I didn’t know it then, but
these were my first loves.
I laid in my crippled position on the snow for some time.
This severe pain would not ease up. The only word that would describe my pain would be the word ‘explosion.’
My horrible anger towards God remained as I asked God to be with my parents as they get the news. The news their son would be crippled.
At that very second I was filled completely with God’s love and forgiveness. From the top of my head to the soles of my feet I was filled. And I mean filled!
I then cried and cried and cried and words of repentance gushed from my heart.
My friends standing by me must have thought I was going through more horrible pain.
God’s presence was as real as I was. Very real. His love and forgiveness was complete. Absolutely no room for doubt.
Eventually the ambulance came and I was placed on a spine board.
Even in the ambulance I felt God’s amazing forgiving presence and peace.
We arrived at the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster.
Once I was in my ward my friends came and stood by the front of the bed and talked amongst themselves.
In the bed I could not raise my head nor could I move my legs. These movements would bring horrible piercing pain throughout my body.
I asked my best friend Allen (also a preacher’s kid and currently pastoring a church)to call my dad and tell him what happened. I was supposed to be home by 4.
Eventually I was given painkillers which helped a bit with the pain.
While laying in bed with my eyes partially closed Allen said “John is here.”
John was my dad’s assistant pastor.
Pastor John was a tall very soft spoken man of God. He never spoke thunder but spoke peace and forgiveness.
He asked if he could show my friends my legs. I said yes and he moved the bed sheet up to my knees.
I saw my friends drop their jaws and looked at me and one of them asked me ‘how do you do that?’
I had no idea what he was asking.
John looked at me and said “Ben, your right leg is 7 inches shorter than your left leg.”
At those very words I felt fear. Real fear. In my heart I called to Jesus. That fear was a dark helpless fear. An absolute horrible hopeless feeling.
John then asked if he could pray for me. I said yes and John put his fingers round my right ankle.
He prayed “Jesus, thank you for your faithfulness. Now in the name of Jesus heal Ben’s back.”
Immediately my right leg started to grow. About 4 seconds later the right leg was made normal.
No coaxing and talking, only letting the miracle happen.
Sounds of small cracks and 1 large crack. It happened without pain. Seconds before this the pain was horrible.
I saw the look on my friends faces. 3 jaws just hung opened. 1 friend asked ‘how did you do that?’
John then reset the bed sheet and told me ‘say hi to your dad’ and then he left.
God’s presence never left nor forsook me.
He never condemned me.
Closer than a loving brother.
Within 3-4 weeks I was back at work. During my weeks at home my place of work delivered my 2 pay cheques to my house.
Also gradually throughout the recouping (muscle spasm)days my spirit’s desire was continually being checked in correcting the Ben first idea and gradually into a walk with faith in God.
My complaints to God before my healing:
1:Me being a crippled son for my parents. I CAME HOME HEALED!
2:Me losing my job. I KEPT MY JOB!
3:Me losing my car. I KEPT MY CAR!
4:And what will others think of me. MY WALKING BY FAITH BEGAN!
Even though this happened in 1975 I can still recall as if it were a year ago.
Ben
Jesus said:
”… And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20
