The Hand of God

Wow...talk about disappearing off the face of the earth.  That is exactly what I did.  I can't really explain why I did that, but once it was time to actually come home I just needed some time...to process...to adjust...to come to terms with what we had been through.  If I had had a place where I could have just hidden away to sleep and think I would have.  Alas, one can only carve out hidden moments in day.  It's really not practical to park yourself in a closet for a month or more.

Life is certainly different being home and un-tethered from Vanderbilt.  Nick is doing very well.  He is getting stronger everyday.  His hair is coming back in black & curly, except for the beard circling his chin which, when allowed to grow, comes out bright red.  His hair used to be long and straight with his bangs swept to the side like Justin Bieber's old do.  Although, Nick always swore that he had been wearing that style long before the Biebs began popularizing it.  I tend to believe him.  

He just goes back to Vanderbilt on a monthly basis now.  Amanda is taking him tomorrow for his second monthly visit.  I'm sure that none of you will be surprised to hear that all of his reports have been outstanding.  Except for that one episode of Graft vs Host rash that happened while we were still in Nashville, he has had absolutely no rejection symptoms.  Oh sure, they told us all of the statistics and things to look for in the coming months, but all that we continue to see is the hand of God covering him and restoring what the enemy thought he was gonna steal.

It is still very much a mystery to me what God is going to do with this adventure.  I can see that He is restoring some things and yet others will never be restored....Changes have been made in Nick's body that will never go back to "normal", like numerous aspects of his appearance.  Yet, those things do not matter.  Other changes have been even more profound, and I believe they are wonderfully changed for good, like  maturity, patience, and depth of character. 

This morning I started reading in Psalms 1.  In it God speaks about how we should conduct ourselves:  Don't ask wicked people for advice.  Don't do as sinners do.  Don't look down your nose at those whose lives are not perfect (like any of ours is perfect.)   ...And...Keep your mind on the Word of God.  This scripture says that if you conduct your lives this way, you will be like a tree planted beside a river...strong, nourished, fed, and fruitful.  It even goes on to say that, if you conduct your life and mind in this way, whatever you do will prosper.

As I read this morning, I have to admit that I have been feeling kind of pulled up by the roots.  When this adventure began I was running a successful business, serving as a Music Pastor, and was just about to begin nursing school.  I know that it was the right decision to have closed my business and stepped down from ministry, because I needed to be with Nick.  The Bible is very clear about taking care of your own family first.  However,  now that we are back, I do not yet know where I fit it in.

As I have pondered this scripture further I realize that the metaphor of the tree is just that...a metaphor.  Don't get me wrong.  I believe that each of us should be planted and serving in a local church.  The Bible is clear about that as well.  However, once again God is showing me that the being planted...or moved for a season is not the important part.  The important part is the condition of my heart.  Am I seeking wise counsel from God and his people?  Am I conducting my life in a Godly way?  Am I looking at others with love instead of judgement?  Am I meditating on God's Word?  If the answer is "yes", then I am "like" a tree planted by the river.  Wherever I am, I am strong and being nourished, fed, and fruitful.

Tonight we will be at First Baptist Church in Jackson, TN.  This is where my parents attend, and they have been asked to speak about our adventure and share the miracles that God worked throughout this journey.  Next Wednesday we will be at Northside Methodist, where my sister and her family attend.  She has also been asked to share with her church about what God has done over the last year.  These are only two of the numerous congregations who continuously lifted us up in prayer, and poured into our lives in so many ways.  I am thankful that God has opened these doors for our family to be able to share how tangibly faithful God has been with some of the people who have been so faithful to pray.

I know that I have said it before, but all of you who prayed for us made a huge difference in our lives.  Not only ours, but potentially all of the lives who have heard about our adventure and who will hear as time passes.  He performed miracle after miracle, and my prayer is that this experience will continue to be shared.  We serve a God who is risen, alive, well, all powerful, loving, compassionate, and Who still performs miracles.  It is well.