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Call it divine intervention or just being lucky, but ideas for this column always seem to arrive just in time.

Keep in mind that I've been writing this column for more than 25 years, so I've exhausted a whole lot of arenas and I know some of you are tired of hearing about bicycling in Blount County.

More than once, I have asked my family or co-workers for ideas -- my wife is particularly helpful (and opinionated) about topics that I write about.

I've admitted both here and from the pew that I often get ideas from my pastor, Jerry Mantooth. More than once, an idea has arrived in the middle of one of his sermons. I have written entire columns in the margins of the church bulletin.

Jerry doesn't take offense -- God works in mysterious ways indeed.

Today, I sat down at the computer literally without anything on my mind. No ideas. No particular inspiration.

But before I started pecking away, I decided to check my e-mails. And first on the list was a note from a local fellow that I don't know especially well but someone that I definitely consider a friend.

In this e-mail, he related a story about how not too long ago he had found himself in a situation where he had to make a decision that should have cost him his life.

With this incident, this fellow was able to save the lives of three people. Unfortunately, two others died. Obviously, he also survived.

Life and death situations change us. We always become more introspective, certainly more aware of our own mortality. That was certainly true for this fellow. In his own words: "Since that day I've been haunted by a thousand questions, not the least of which is why, what is the purpose? Why did I get to live through this? One thing that has popped up over and over is the fact that this experience has changed me. My ability to be empathetic to others, to appreciate every small blessing, to look for ways to help others has been enhanced."

It has now become important for him to make himself available to counsel those going through difficult times. He most certainly is better equipped to deal with those issues. Facing death will do that.

Although there are those who have the opportunity to do so, most of us are not here to change the whole world. Most of us will never have the opportunity to save a life, as this fellow did.

But executing small and random acts of kindness are profoundly important as well. Those unannounced, even anonymous deeds give great meaning and purpose to our lives.

Deciding to make a difference in our corner of the world, impacting others in a positive way every day -- those are incredibly important life purposes.

Acting in profound and selfless ways by saving the life of others, putting others before us ... now that is truly heroic.

It is the ultimate test of our character, our moral foundation.

Joe Black, PT, DPT, SCS, ATC is a physical therapist and athletic trainer at Total Rehabilitation and is Manager of Outpatient Rehabilitation for Blount Memorial Hospital. Write to him at joeblackdpt@gmail.com.