From 10/21-7/22, our now 43-year-old son Jordan went through great adversities. He responded to ongoing wicked trauma on many fronts by trying to take his life three times. We felt the power of that vortex too. Once, in Mexico, he jumped from a tower, broke his back and smashed his feet. His back required 8-hour surgery. It is remarkable he can walk on his shattered feet. After we exhausted mental health resources in Montana, friends recommended Menninger Clinic in Houston. Menninger charged $50,000 to walk in the door. God provided.
Stephen King’s character, Ted Brautigan, tells youthful Bobby Garfield, “When you’re young, you have moments of such happiness, you think you’re living in someplace magical, like Atlantis must have been. Then we grow up, and our hearts break in two.” (“Hearts in Atlantis”)
That breaking comes in many ways. Because of sin’s onset, God “subjected” (creation) “to futility”…and placed it in “slavery to corruption.” (Romans 8:20, 21) Friend, who knows when futility and corruption will manifest themselves?
For example, consider “Sam”, a sprightly older man in his late 70’s. We met after a lecture regarding the care of words. Our conversation ran deep.
As an infant, Sam simultaneously contracted two serious diseases. The doctor, called to Sam’s parent’s farmhouse, held out no hope. Already having lost other children to disease, Sam’s Mother with deep groaning poured out her soul in prayer like Hannah (1 Samuel 1: 10-17).
Mercy, mercy! God spared Sam’s life. Like Hannah in the Bible, Sam’s Mother encouraged Sam to go into the ministry. And he did.
Sam and his wife, “Sarah”, raised six children. And there were challenges with churches – he even had the sad duty of closing one.
Sam’s greatest challenge came after the children had left. Something broke in Sarah. She became dangerous. On numerous occasions, she tried to take Sam’s life. Finally, a daughter helped him commit Sarah to a mental hospital.
Once, after Sam visited Sarah, a doctor pulled him aside saying: “Sam, following your visits, it takes days for your wife to settle down. For her well-being and ours, we ask you not to visit your wife.”
What a story!
I asked Sam: “What good has God been in all of this?”
Sam, who had thought much about life, with unwavering voice replied: “God’s love is incorruptible.”
Friend, “incorruptible” leads us to the majestic New Testament book, Ephesians. Paul and the Holy Spirit conspire to make “incorruptible” the last word – the word that continues to ring in our ears and dominate our thoughts.
“Incorruptible” had that effect on me.
Traveling from Helena to preach Sunday, August 27, 2023, for a 4:00 service in Laurel, MT (3+ hours away), I felt an urge – by the Holy Spirit? – to stop and worship at dynamic Trailhead Christian Fellowship – north of Townsend.
Although I walked in late, that unexpected stop paid rich dividends.