A dozen guys from a local rehab center called Dare Challenge joined us for Thanksgiving Dinner at our home. (I wrote about the two Thanksgivings we hosted for them here and here.)
Danny Burdette was one of the men who ate with us; he is a graduate of the program and serves as a staff member.
This is Danny on our front porch at Thanksgiving, 2011.
Danny married a wonderful pastor’s daughter named Alli.
Danny was riding his motorcycle when he was hit by a car. In the screech of a tire, in the blink of an eye, his new bride began the journey of discovering the truest meaning behind the vow she had just recited, “In sickness and in health.”
Danny was life-flighted to the nearest trauma center; his left arm was shattered and his left leg amputated below the knee. He has a lengthy hospitalization in front of him and a long road to recovery.
The people in our community have been sobered and saddened by this tragedy– a tragedy that is especially heart-rending since it happened to someone who has gotten his life together after years of addiction, someone newly married, someone looking forward to a bright future.
After deciding I’d like to share Danny’s story with you, I asked Steve to contact Dare Challenge to get a little insight into how Danny is dealing with all this. Here are a few things Steve was told:
At the crash site, Danny had the presence of mind to take his vest off and tie it around his leg to slow the bleeding. In the ambulance, he asked one of the attendants to pray for him which she did, going against protocol.
After his first surgery, Danny called for Dustin (director of Dare Challenge) as he woke up and then said to him, “Man, I lost my leg.” He was weeping. He asked who the driver of the car was. Dustin told him it was a young lady with a history of addiction who was high at the time of the accident.
Danny said, “Christ gave Himself for my sin. This will all be for the glory of God. If this is what it takes for her to know freedom and forgiveness in Christ than that’s fine. Tell her I love her and I forgive her.”
In conversations, he continually shows concern for his wife, more for her than for himself. He often talks of the goodness of God through it all.
How can anyone not be inspired by that kind of attitude in the face of such a tragedy? It certainly gives me a different perspective on the small things in life that I tend to stress over.
A Dare Challenge center for women was recently opened on Roanoke Island by the same people who run the men’s center. The women who are in this rehab program have pretty much reached bottom in life—addictions, poor choices, tragedies—they’ve been through so much.
And even though these women are in a very difficult place in life, for the past three mornings they have all volunteered to come to our church and cook breakfast for the homeless guests we are hosting.
Whether it’s a former drug addict waking up from a motorcycle accident ready to forgive the drug-impaired person who hit him, or whether it’s half a dozen women who have been through terrible times reaching out to those who are even more needy than they are—each of these stories has its place of honor in the book that Inspiration has written.
In a world full of cynicism, pessimism and doubt, we can all tell our own stories of inspiration that we have witnessed, stories of inspiration that we have lived.
We need to remember the inspiration. We need to remember the stories. And we need to remember that in a sometimes ugly world, the human spirit–displaying the beauty of strength and forgiveness–is one of the sweetest inspirations of all.
If you would like to send an encouraging note to Danny and Alli, or help with expenses, here is the address:
Danny Burdette
c/o Linda Daniels
PO Box 144
Wanchese, NC 27981
>And we need to remember that in a sometimes ugly world, the human spirit–displaying the beauty of strength and forgiveness–is one of the sweetest inspirations of all.
This seems like a particularly important sentiment to remember today, in the wake of the Boston bombings. It can be so easy to begin to feel that much – even most – of the world is awful, but in truth that is not so. It is only a few who have so drastically lost their way and though their actions threaten to taint our vision of humanity as a whole, in fact most of us are good, kind and caring – like Danny.
My thoughts and prayers are with Danny and Ali!
Kristi, thanks so much! They are greatly needed and greatly appreciated.
Robert,
Thanks so much for your encouraging words for Danny–I know it means so much to him and Alli to know that they are surrounded by friends who love them and will pray for them.
All of them will be in my prayers – it is always bittersweet to see the silver linings that can appear in the middle of these kinds of truly difficult situations.
May God Bless You Bro! Stay Encouraged! Continue to Trust the Lord……..Proverbs 3:5-6!
I Will Most Def. Keep You and Your Family In Prayer!
Gods Mountain Lion For Life!
In Christ Alone!
Amen!
Agape’-Phileo!
Lauren,
You’re so right–finding silver linings in trouble is a great thing, but it’s definitely bittersweet to have to go through that trouble to find them.
Becky, please tell Danny and Alli that they are in my prayers.
Did not know Danny or his bride but may GODS glory continue too shine through them and in them. May GOD continue to bless him each and every day! I will continue to keep them in my prayers!
Anonymous,
God’s glory is already shining through them in such a great way and I know it will continue to do so. Thanks for encouragement for them!
the grace of God is definitely reflected in Danny’s being able to so readily forgive.
I imagine that he and Ali will have all the support they need as he faces the unknown in his recovery and rehabilitation, and that they will be covered in prayer each day.
Mrs. Pam,
Being covered in prayer every day (as you beautifully stated it) will make such a difference to this sweet couple as they walk through this tough chapter of life. Thanks for your words.
I prayed for this young courageous couple. The incredible strength and courage he has already displayed in his fight to overcome drugs will help him now as he faces this new challenge. There will be tough days ahead but it sounds like they have a strong community supporting them. Also they serve an incredible God.
Jenna,
Thanks for praying. You’re so right–Danny already has displayed great strength and courage in overcoming substance abuse. His “courage muscles” are well developed!
Wow..That just truley touched me. I am in recovery now after a long dark road. I could never imagine this but it could have been me in her place. I thank God everyday for walking me through this an being by my side every step I take forward.
Anyonymous – I just wanted to say ” good for you for being in recovery. ‘ that takes a huge amount of strength and courage and even though I don’t know you I just wanted to encourage you that I am proud of you. You have not allowed your long dark road to lead you to further dark roads but to lead you to recovery. God has a plan for your life.
‘
Thanks, Jenna, for being such an encouragement.
Anonymous,
I join with Jenna in affirming your road to (and through) recovery. You’re taking good steps and I know that God has a good plan and a good future for you!
Thank you for sharing. I have never met Danny but my Mom has worked with him at the food pantry and has always talked about him so fondly. She just picked up a wedding gift for them.
Anonymous, how sweet of your mom to buy a wedding gift for Danny and Alli; I know she enjoyed working with him at the food pantry!
Just read in a devotional sent to me today “God works all things for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. May The Lord give both of them strength and encouragement today.
Sharyn,
Strength and encouragement are both wonderful things to pray for.
I just want to say what a beautiful story off God’s love and forgiveness. This young man and his wife will touch many lives through there story. He was once where she the ypung lady driving the car is in her life thats why he can have compassion because he knows that could have been him had God not saved him and changed his life. I believe he will change many drug addicts lives with his heart for Jesus.This story has touched my life to love more and be more forgiving so he is already touching lives. I will be praying for him and his beautiful wife.
Myra,
Thanks for your sweet, encouraging comment. I agree that his story will touch many people down the road–just as it touched your life today.
Beautifully Written…thank you. Dare Challenge is an amazing program and I’m grateful to God for it.
We can all learn from this …..
Amen. What started as Dare Challenge with Dustins’ story, to Danny and know this incredible story. I pray for Danny and his wife and also their income but that the girl that did this will be our next encouraging story- to know that she would get off drugs/alcolhol and turn her life over to Christ. What a blessing that would be. If others only knew what Dare Challenge do to help get you off of drugs and alcohol. GOD Bless you all,
Randy and Sue Tolley
Randy and Sue,
I’m thankful right along with you for Dare Challenge and the work they’re doing to help men and women change their lives.
Amanda,
Dare Challenge truly is an amazing program and it’s made even more wonderful by people like Danny!
I so admire this young man and his ability in the face of great adversity to find it in his heart to forgive her. Hopefully, she will get the same kind of help he found.
Liz,
I admire him too; it’s rare for a young man like that to have the depth of character and maturity to face adversity with forgiveness.
Wow, that’s intense. I really feel for him and wish him the best along the road ahead. But still, it’s nice to know so much good is already coming out of it.
Luke,
Yeah, intense is a pretty good word for everything that’s gone on! It’s encouraging to know that good really can come out of really bad stuff.
Thanks for the story , I have never Met Danny or his Bride , But I do know that the men and women that go through that Dare Challenge Program are wonderful people. They have done so much with and for our community. One of my friends went through this program and I am so PROUD of all he has overcame. Thanks so much for writing this story. Our thoughts and Prayers are still being sent up for Danny and Alli and even the other people involved in the crash. Praise God he is still here to share this with others , Life can change in the blink of an eye , WE HAD BETTER BE READY… Thanks again.
Rhonda,
Such truth to those words–life can change in the blink of an eye. Makes me want to treasure every single moment!
Hats off to Danny and Ali. Sweet couple. I love my friends at Dare Challenge. It is a wonderful ministry.
Steve,
They’re great folks; I know you’ve enjoyed spending time with them every Thursday.