People move people. Our lives are testimony to our beliefs exposing our hearts before others. If you take the time to examine a life, you will know and understand the truths they hold to. I'd like to share with you two lives of whom I don't personally know but whose lives speak volumes by their actions.
I have a friend who is a teacher. She teaches first grade and is an AWESOME teacher, not because she has excellent classroom management, but because she cares and invests in each student teaching first graders to think, problem solve and desire learning. Nearly twenty years ago, Michelle was my teacher's aide in an elementary science lab and she was and remains phenomenal. Michelle has a student who does not know his alphabet and is lost in class. Her father, coming to teacher's conference cusses her out, blaming her for his son's lack of success. This is wrong on so many levels, but as a teacher myself, I've come to learn this as indicator of struggle in this dad's life. It can be a cry for help, however he may not be ready to receive it unless someone in his life comes alongside to help him see the truth of his actions upon himself and his son. His circumstances have made him self-absorbed, costing his son, and others great harm.
The second life is a woman I learned of through the blog of her friend. Kim is a mom, facing stage IV ovarian cancer. She has been clearly demonstrating faith as she battles and will soon lose. Her life, however is leading the way in truth and courage for all to see. With honesty and power her living clearly demonstrated, to her friend Laurie and the rest of the world, that God is present in the deepest angst and struggle, the greatest reward as leaning on the shoulders of Jesus, walking with Him through it all until sweet release, arriving home in His arms.
Can I say it again? People move people. Our lives are affected by others for good and hard purpose. We can learn from how others live and if we have good friends can learn to live a life that moves people to purpose and care for others. A life can clearly demonstrate a need for God or that God is real in real tough circumstances and His power is made manifest as we endure real life when life gets real hard.
Look, if you read the Bible, you will see that things are not always easy for those who are God's people. God's people make serious mistakes. We can also demonstrate incredible power as we engage God as part of our lives. The Bible isn't about rules and regulations. It isn't about our response. It is about relationship and how this relationship will transform lives with power, on His terms. He is God. I see the hand of God clearly etched into the life of Kim, her living legacy is a testimony of the power of God in her struggle to extend her life for her family at great cost. The most powerful lives speak on behalf of our most powerful God through the most devastating circumstances.
While I didn't have privilege to know Kim, thanks to Laurie and my friend who posted a link on Facebook, I do now. My teacher friend posted about a dad who cussed her out at a conference where she was trying to advocate for his son. Please understand, I am just stating facts, trying to report them. These two lives speak and expose the truth of what they believe. The dad is blaming the teacher for his son's failure, Kim blames no one, including God for her struggle choosing to see hers through the eyes of God.
I believe Kim understood that Jesus endured excruciating pain and suffering as He willingly headed toward the cross. I believe she also experienced His presence as she walked through her trial, trusting Him for wisdom and strength along the way while God provided it in spades. Only a God who has personally taken on human existence and suffering could fully comprehend what Kim experienced. He has done this for all that we can believe and trust in Him. My prayer is that the father, whose son is struggling, meet and learn from the Father who sent His son to the cross. Kim did and as she walked with the Father, her testimony is awe inspiring, a testimony of our powerful, compassionate God. Some ask "Where was God when....?" Kim clearly demonstrates that God is near to those who see Him for who He is. Through the most devastating circumstances God is available and in the midst of them all, for all who choose to see, see.
You can read about Kim at http://blog.lauriepolich.com/touching-death-and-finding-life/.
Bob, Kim and her husband are known to our family as well. As a Christian professor, she was very instrumental in our son's life both as an instructor and in obtaining the grant that led to his NSF scholarship. She and Ken have been and continue to be, because she is still on this earth as of today, shining lights of Jesus on the Westmont campus and to the greater Santa Barbara community.
ReplyDeleteKim and her husband are known to our family. Our son has had classes with them both and we have heard them speak together in Chapel at Westmont just a few years back about marriage. As a Christian professor, she was very instrumental in obtaining the grant that provided for our son's NSF scholarship. They are both (she is still alive) shining lights of Jesus at Westmont and in the greater Santa Barbara community.
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