I was in Georgetown towards the end of my summer. I had gone to visit Falmouth, where I was once and youth pastor, and some college friends at Georgetown. I was sitting in the Lock and Key - this neat new coffee shop with free wireless internet. I called home to see how the family was doing.
I found out Patrick had had a car accident. It was pretty bad and they didn't know if he was going to survive. I didn't know Patrick real well. I remembered him from around church. I had played high school soccer with his older brother Cory. I knew his mom and dad fairly well. Rocky and Terri were divorced…had been for as long as I can remember.
I returned home several days after the wreck had happened and mom and I had planned to go to Nashville to do a few things. We decided to go by Vandy to visit Patrick's family. He was still barely holding on. It was Thursday.
Wednesday the doctors had told his parents to get their family there he was going to make it through the afternoon. He did. We saw them on Thursday. We still couldn't see Patrick…he was in a drug induced coma and was barely getting by. I remember Rocky telling me, "In the morning we just pray for a good morning. At night we only hope for a good night. We look for good news moment by moment that is all we can hope for right now."
I remember giving Terri a hug. We had worked together on some youth events when I was the interim at Lone Oak. I shook Rocky's hand. For some reason I remember his bracelet…that kind they sell on TV that are supposed to help your circulation. Cory gave me a hug. I didn't know Cory real well, but as I went to shake his had he hugged me.
A couple weeks later I preached at church Cory was there. He came and thanked me for visiting. We talked and I found out Patrick was improving daily.
They have moved him to Lexington. He is up and getting around on a walker. His memory is still bad. They didn't think this kid was going to live!
I talked to my mom the other night and she had received word (actually dad had) from Rocky. He wanted me to know something. Patrick was being told what all was happening and needed to happen. He asked his dad to write it down and read it to him again later because he wouldn't be able to remember it. Rocky said he would.
Patrick asked him to give it to the male nurse that was taking care of him, and he would read it to him also. According to Rocky these were Patrick's words. "Give it to ____ (I forgot the nurses name.) he is a good guy. He will read it to me later too. He is a good guy; he reminds me a lot of Chad at church."
There is no reason why anyone would remind him of me. I barely knew the kid. I have tried to remember what I knew him from and all I can think of is he must have been at a D'Now or at children's camp with me. For some reason this 19 year old kid who I have not seen or talked to in years remembers me and remembers me as something good.
Wow! What are we to do with that? I didn't and don't know how to respond. I am humbled. I am shocked. I am scared that the remembrances of many might not be so positive. I am frightened to realize that even when I didn't know Patrick was watching he saw me.
Now I prepare to go to Africa. I will be watched. Others will know I am a follower of Jesus and what will my life speak.
Pray for Patrick. Pray he continues to improve. Pray for me. Pray that I leave others remembering Christ even when I don't know I am leaving them with anything.
Saturday, July 31, 2004
Thursday, July 01, 2004
Life Goes On...
I'm not sure I am the best at feeling blessed in bad situations. I am not one of those trying to always smile so that I can make the world think things are great when they suck. Rather I desire to see how I am blessed when things are tough.
My parents are at the hospital today. A lady that has worked for them for nearly 20 years found out in the last couple weeks she has colon cancer. Today Shirley is having surgery done. She is terrified and a bit hardheaded. She considered just not having the surgery. Not long ago she got mad at two of her friends because they took off work to go to the doctor with her. A couple years ago Shirley's husband died. I can't imagine finding strength in her situation.
Saturday my mom gave me a newspaper clipping. I went to high school with a girl named Shanna. Not long ago I was home and ran into her parents with her two oldest boys. She was at home with her little girl and was due to have the fourth soon. Saturday I found out the fourth, and infant, died. I imagine I would be devastated. I considered visiting her and her parents. I couldn't. What in the world would I tell them? How could I show them how much I hurt for them?
Monday morning my dad went to the dump to unload a trailer of trash. He fell, landed on the rail of the trailer, and was in such pain he just laid there for several minutes. After spending the afternoon at the doctor we found out he broke a rib. He is in quite a bit of pain and I hate seeing my dad this way.
Tuesday Ryan went to the doctor. Last fall he dropped a 1,000-pound sound cabinet on his foot at work. It crushed it. He has had numerous surgeries, metal plates, pins, and more put in there. At the doctor he found out he will need surgery again. The doctor wants to grind down part of the bone in his third toe. It will leave it immovable. In order to fix this problem, they want to attach it to the second toe. He is pretty disappointed. It will put him out of work for at least a month…again.
In three weeks I begin orientation to go overseas. I am so excited and yet worried. I will spend years away from the friends I have made in the last four years. After graduating we have all moved away from one another. It is hard to handle. I miss my friends. I love my parents; I have had great time with them. But I miss those who have become my other family. My family in Waco only has a few pieces in Waco. We have the ability to simply sit and talk for hours about nothing. We play together, and talk together. We laugh together, and pray together. Now we are all separated. I miss them. I'll miss them and my actual family when I am gone. I'm a bit nervous about the whole ordeal.
Just wanted to share life with those of you who swing by to read. By the way I have sent out an email to numerous people to join a prayer team as I head overseas. I am fully aware that I will need a blanket of prayer over me as I go and do ministry. If you have not heard from me I do not have an email to reach you. Let me know if you are interested in participating: send me an email.
One of the hardest things about leaving is that life still goes on for the rest of the world. My family will still get sick and hurt. Those I love may pass away. Others will get older or married or have kids. I will miss these milestones and I hate that. The last several weeks have been about saying goodbyes. They have been about seeing people I know and/or knew and sharing with them some time and a hug. I have a couple weeks left to do this. It's tough.
My parents are at the hospital today. A lady that has worked for them for nearly 20 years found out in the last couple weeks she has colon cancer. Today Shirley is having surgery done. She is terrified and a bit hardheaded. She considered just not having the surgery. Not long ago she got mad at two of her friends because they took off work to go to the doctor with her. A couple years ago Shirley's husband died. I can't imagine finding strength in her situation.
Saturday my mom gave me a newspaper clipping. I went to high school with a girl named Shanna. Not long ago I was home and ran into her parents with her two oldest boys. She was at home with her little girl and was due to have the fourth soon. Saturday I found out the fourth, and infant, died. I imagine I would be devastated. I considered visiting her and her parents. I couldn't. What in the world would I tell them? How could I show them how much I hurt for them?
Monday morning my dad went to the dump to unload a trailer of trash. He fell, landed on the rail of the trailer, and was in such pain he just laid there for several minutes. After spending the afternoon at the doctor we found out he broke a rib. He is in quite a bit of pain and I hate seeing my dad this way.
Tuesday Ryan went to the doctor. Last fall he dropped a 1,000-pound sound cabinet on his foot at work. It crushed it. He has had numerous surgeries, metal plates, pins, and more put in there. At the doctor he found out he will need surgery again. The doctor wants to grind down part of the bone in his third toe. It will leave it immovable. In order to fix this problem, they want to attach it to the second toe. He is pretty disappointed. It will put him out of work for at least a month…again.
In three weeks I begin orientation to go overseas. I am so excited and yet worried. I will spend years away from the friends I have made in the last four years. After graduating we have all moved away from one another. It is hard to handle. I miss my friends. I love my parents; I have had great time with them. But I miss those who have become my other family. My family in Waco only has a few pieces in Waco. We have the ability to simply sit and talk for hours about nothing. We play together, and talk together. We laugh together, and pray together. Now we are all separated. I miss them. I'll miss them and my actual family when I am gone. I'm a bit nervous about the whole ordeal.
Just wanted to share life with those of you who swing by to read. By the way I have sent out an email to numerous people to join a prayer team as I head overseas. I am fully aware that I will need a blanket of prayer over me as I go and do ministry. If you have not heard from me I do not have an email to reach you. Let me know if you are interested in participating: send me an email.
One of the hardest things about leaving is that life still goes on for the rest of the world. My family will still get sick and hurt. Those I love may pass away. Others will get older or married or have kids. I will miss these milestones and I hate that. The last several weeks have been about saying goodbyes. They have been about seeing people I know and/or knew and sharing with them some time and a hug. I have a couple weeks left to do this. It's tough.
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