This blog is an encouragement for some dear friends of mine whose family is currently facing more than one crisis at time.

Crisis arises, family rallies.  Emergency interrupts, friends rescue. Fear strangles, faith resurrects.   Life traumas bring out the best in people.  When all hell is breaking loose, those that love you, come to help.  Family and friends race to their knees on your behalf.  People you have not seen for years crawl out of the woodwork to support and under gird you with kind words. When the battle for life begins, there are cheerleaders in your corner you did not even realize where there.  Others that have experienced the fight before you, come beside to provide the hope that all will be well.  Neighbors you did not know bring your family dinner.  Friends honor commitments you made, and rescue you from not fulfilling them.   It is almost worth the trauma to see this amazing community in action…almost. 

 It is humbling really, to know that all of those people care so much about you and yours.  Perspective changes, as you watch from the bed or chair.  I for one had no idea that there were that many people I had affected in one way or another.  People would send cards that had the most wonderful notes about how I had somehow influenced their lives.  They were well-wishers that prayed, and held my name before the Creator of the Universe night and day…humbling.

  And what about the Creator of the Universe??  He poured out his spirit of peace in the midst of the turmoil that bubbled all around.  He showed his strength in my weakness.  The one that breathed the stars, whispered in my ear gently telling me his secrets and assuring me that he is sovereign.  He drew me closer to his heart and he does it still. 

A life threatening crisis gets our attention. It reminds us that life is a gift, that friends and family matter, and that God is in control.  We become aware of what is important and what is extra.  The little annoyances of everyday fade into the huge picture of who God is.  His love for us…these little tiny creatures…expands in our vision of a Heavenly Father who cares for even tinier details…like the cells in our bodies. 

Trauma also opens our eyes to see how blessed we are and gives us eyes to see others who are not.  Sitting in a waiting room with a loving husband at your side, makes you aware of the woman across from you without one.  Having visitors come and sit with you at a chemo lab shines a spotlight on a person that rode a bus to get there.  A man throwing up in a trashcan in the next chair over breaks your heart to pieces because he is all alone.  Everything looks different after a crisis.  It is as if God puts his eyes in your sockets so you can see past your own blessings to his compassion.  You realize there is a light in you, which glows from the inside out.   It attracts others to you and your family.  They are drawn by the love that you share with each other. They see the sharing of the burden of life, and you can almost hear their thoughts, “Is there such a thing as that kind of love?  Could I ever have what they have?”  Now when you see those questions on the faces of those all around you, your heart leaps to share the answer.  A kind word and a smile begin to open their hearts to the possibility that maybe, just maybe, there is something to this love they are witnessing.  The words you write, or the phone call you share can change someone’s whole way of thinking.  It is then that you realize that the crisis you have survived had a divine purpose. 

The bible says that all was created to display the Glory of God.  The blind man was healed, the lame walked, the sick got well, and the dead were resurrected.  People watched from a distance.  In awe and with hope they came to seek him…asking the unspoken questions, “Is this for real?” and more importantly “Do you love me enough to do it for me? Am I important?”  They longed to find him then, and they are watching still.  They will see him there in the hospital, hear him in your words, and feel him in your hugs.  Even now in your crisis…He is displaying his Glory.