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Hello Friends,
April showers have brought May flowers to SHA this March. But, April isn’t until next month.
LODGING IN HOPE
I’m writing from the Hope Lodge in Atlanta, where Beth and I were fortunate enough to land a room for a week or so at no charge—courtesy of the American Cancer Society! This has been an incredible blessing—and just in time too! Beth has been undergoing some minor surgeries that require that we stay near Emory in case something goes wrong. And, it did. Her uterus got punctured during surgery. They said it was largely due to the compromised condition of her tissue inside. She was prescribed antibiotics to mitigate a possible infection, and no negative effects have been observed. The toughest thing for Beth to endure stemmed from a tailbone injury she suffered in the 8th grade. With her tailbone shaped like the letter “L”ever since it happened, it was like she was lying on a spike, while being required to stay motionless for 6 hours! Tough as a spike, herself, she took it like a trooper. The really great news is that her doctors says the tumor has shrunk considerably! Beth and I are so grateful for all the fabulous care and courtesy we’ve been given during our time in Atlanta—especially from the nurses. These people really have a gift to do what they do. And, it got me thinking about some things.
ON THE RECEIVING END
For well over a quarter century, Beth and I haven’t slowed down long enough to grasp and/or experience what the past several months have forced us to grasp and experience. At SHA, we’ve always been in our ministry lane by working with teens to affect their healing—spiritually, emotionally, psychologically, and relationally. I’d say that once the spiritual life is in order, all the rest follows. Because of the spiritual healing that takes place, we often see our fair share of physical healing in our students as well. It seems to be a byproduct of spiritual healing. While many kids leave SHA drug, alcohol, and medication free, others are freed from the bondage of any number of sinful attitudes and behaviors. In addition to total life change, one of our students actually lost 100 pounds while at SHA! By the same token, a physical healing can often lead to spiritual, emotional, psychological, and relational healing.
Both at Emory, and at Hope Lodge, Beth and I have met a ton of quality people who are focused on physical healing—both patients and medical personnel, alike. Seeing physical healing has brought so many of them to terms with spiritual health. I never expected to meet so many God-fearing, Jesus-loving people in the city; but, it’s been like going to church! Most are people who’ve grown spiritually because of what they’ve gone through physically and/or what they’ve seen others endure and/or overcome physically. In John 14:12 Jesus spoke of others carrying-on His miraculous works when He said, “…anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these…” It’s a testimony to modern science—a discipline birthed out of the Christian faith! Even many Christians are unaware of this.
Today, Jesus is still our Wonderful Counselor and our Great Physician. Newton, Kepler, Pasteur, Semmelweis, and multitudes of other God-fearing giants, discovered the tools of God we still use today to bring health and healing to the masses through science. Now, Beth and I find ourselves in the place of the parents we’ve served over the years by being the recipients of love, care, and healing, from perfect strangers who are called to the ministry of physical healing. And, while a great blessing, I’d still rather be serving.
COMING UP HIGHER
Ever learning and ever growing, perhaps to my shame, this whole ministry of the physical has been something I’ve never been so familiar with—cooking, cleaning, washing dishes—and all the other domestic activities that Beth has so selflessly performed in our home for nearly 44 years with grace. I’ve found that, after getting past the uncomfortableness of the unfamiliar, there’s another level of love and satisfaction before God to be experienced when tending to the basic needs of others. I got a small taste of it with my mother and Beth’s father before they passed; but, my sisters and Beth bore the brunt of each respectively.
Over the past 35 years there have been times—but, particularly in recent times—when it would’ve been so easy to follow the counsel of Job’s wife, and just curse God and die. Yet, in the midst of it all, all I can conclude is that, once again, something really great is on the horizon. It’s always worked out that way for SHA and for Beth and me. So, we’ll continue to lift up our heads and hearts to Him with thanks and praise, knowing that the sufferings of others around the world has made ours negligible. Evil and hurt can never dilute God’s goodness and grace. For, we know that our Redeemer lives!
BETH GETS HER BELL RUNG
Last month I mentioned the “Bell” at Emory. An Emory tradition, when you ring the brass bell in their radiation department, it means you received your last radiation treatment. Human tissue isn’t usually able to endure much more. Last week, Beth got to ring the bell! That’s when all the nurses in the unit become cheerleaders and start singing and dancing a congratulatory cheer, while shaking their pom poms at the same time. It’s quite the spectacle! Right now, I’m writing this in my home-office, as we’ve had the weekend free before heading back to the Hope Lodge in just a few hours to prepare for Beth’s next surgery tomorrow. Please pray that no further treatment will be needed after that, and that Beth will be totally cancer free. And, as always, please keep all our friends/family in prayer from the attacks of the enemy too. So many, who are close to us, have been plagued with similar issues in recent times. The Lord knows their names.
POTPOURRI
While the SHA leadership team prepares for the Spring Parent Conference Weekend coming up at the beginning of April, Beth and I have been doing what we can, when we can, as time and energy allow, which isn’t too much these days. Our cat, Stewart (Stewardess) just had 7 kittens—hint, hint. When we are required to be at the Hope Lodge, our daughter, Alexa, tends to our chickens with two of her three offspring. While 6-month-old, Declan, patiently waits in their truck, two-year-old, Rogan, and four-year-old, Rylie, (AKA, as my brother-in-law calls his grandkids, “The Terrorists”) help Alexa let out and feed the chickens in the morning. Then, they help her round them up to be put in their coop before sundown. Not to do so, assures their demise.
Beth’s security camera spots everything from bobcats to raccoons, and every animal in between. If you received this newsletter via snail mail, “The Terrorists” have likely stuffed your envelopes. Alexa & Jeremiah are parents who understand small kids can do more than most parents expect of them! When commuting to Atlanta, we usually get home in time for me to tend to the birds myself. Beth can no longer be in the same zip code as those dirty birds! Hopefully, this will change sooner than later. Although, I have to admit, I’ve grown quite fond of my foul feathered friends. They know their name and come when I call them. Who could have dreamt?
Beth and I would, once again, like to thank all of you who have been so faithful to pray for our family, and for your generous gifts of support. You’ll never know what it means to us. If you have yet to get a personal response from either of us, please know that we’re doing our best to make that happen too. You are a ministry to us, as you have been to SHA, and to the families we serve here. It’s a strange time and season—but, this too shall pass.