When Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills collapsed on the field a couple Mondays ago and the announcers solemnly stated they were performing CPR on the young man — I honestly can say I thought I had witnessed his death on live TV.

In a way, we all did because technically he was dead after suffering cardiac arrest following what appeared to be a routine tackle early in the game.

I admit I cried as I watched the tears flowing down Stefon Diggs’ face as he clutched his shoulder pads in horror. Siran Neal, another teammate, pulled away from the grouping and fell to his knees while another teammate wrapped his arms around him. Huge linemen whose girth and mass create menacing brutes, were maligned to the turf on all fours with their heads buried in their hands.

The cutaways from the stadium to the TV studio were agonizing as well  as none of the announcers felt compelled to comment on what they were witnessing. Bouts of silence filled the airways and it felt as if time was standing still.

I began praying to God for the life of that 24-year-old Bills player as soon as that ambulance entered the stadium. I had hoped one of the announcers would have the guts to dismiss protocol and commit to a prayer. I did find out later that an ESPN analyst named Dan Orlovsky did just that on live TV — something I thought I’d never see from that network. Amazing. Chilling.

As the ambulance finally secured Hamlin’s compromised body from the scene after several insufferable minutes, the cameras turned towards a large huddle of Buffalo Bills players, coaches, trainers and others as they collectively started praying for their fallen teammate while on their knees. Imagine that scene for a moment. This is in great contrast to the usual practices of many of these ego-ridden athletes who push the boundaries on ethical behavior in front of millions of fans (remember Randy Moss’ “mooning”?) Tim Tebow was mocked and laughed at for kneeling in prayer during his career. Now, on the biggest stage in football, not one player was left standing.

Subsequently, during Hamlin’s recovery over the next several days, the entire world jumped on board to show their support for the Bill’s player. That meant millions of people connected to the rallying call of “praying for Damar”. 

God works in mysterious ways (smile).

One man’s infirmity in front of the whole world brought this country back to its knees. And God listened.

In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. — Psalm 18:6.

All 32 NFL teams spotlighted the call to “Pray for Damar” on their social media sites, stadiums and apparel. Dozens linked arms outside Hamlin’s Cincinnati hospital and prayed to the One who could heal him. And He did.

Damar is on the road to full recovery and was sent back home earlier this week. May that sudden urgency for God remain with us.