Unbroken Circle

 

Monday, December 29, 2008

unbroken circle

It was a rainy spring evening and revival week at Hoitt Ave. Baptist Church had just begun. Like most thirteen year-old boys I would’ve rather been anywhere but church this night. With the exception of flipping knuckles on the back row of pews with my best friend Gary Cole there wasn’t much to capture my attention. That is until the back door of the church flew open and in walked a couple of men with trench coats and umbrellas. One was leading the other by the arm, due to the physical blindness he suffered from. They approached the front of the church, removed their coats and took a seat on the front row. Soon the pastor asked “Brother Ray” to come sing. This small, unassuming, shaved-head man had everyone’s attention, including the Rat Pack on the back pew.

He sang several songs (without accompaniment) with an untrained voice, and constant interruption from what country folk term a “touch of the palsy.” None of that made a difference though, because for one thirteen year old it was God himself singing and calling to my heart “come, come unto me”. I walked down the center aisle and approached our Savior’s fountain of grace and mercy for the first time that night.

As time went by, my life moved further and further away from that rainy night altar. As time went by, I recovered from my grief for my friend Gary's suicide before the age of twenty-five. As time went by I lost the awareness of how special His grace was. As time went by, I forgot about blind Brother Ray. As time went by……

Jerry Bates, (a man I casually knew at the time) came into my office one day in need of an ear, or more accurately in need of a heart. His beloved sister Lois was going to die of cancer soon unless they could find a way to treat the aggressive disease that was spreading throughout her body. He needed to have prayer with someone, and God sent him my way. Me of all people. We prayed, and God was among us. Two hours after he left I got a call that my aunt Barbara was diagnosed with terminal cancer and would live only six months. Unlike Lois though Aunt Barbara wasn’t given any treatment options, and seven weeks later she spiritually recovered from her afflictions and took on a new body, as God called her home.

The day after Barbara’s funeral, Jerry Bates appeared at my door again. This time to sing praises that Lois had come through the surgery, and early opinion was that she had a good chance for recovery. Because of God’s calling for us to be an encouragement to one another I went to see this stranger in her hospital bed. Awkwardly I introduced myself and fellowshipped for a while with her and her sister from Alabama, while Jerry was still at work. I told her that I would come back on the weekend to check on her again.

But then the news came the next day that my uncle Ken, (Aunt Barbara’s husband) had suffered a stroke and a massive heart attack. His short stay in the CCU unit of another hospital, and merciful death and burial prevented me from making it back to see Sister Lois before she was discharged and sent home to recover. I felt bad about breaking my word to her. In the mist of Lois's miraculous period of healing I had lost two dear relatives, but all three were situations to celebrate.

A few months later Jerry showed up at my door once again. (By the way I forgot to mention, each time he comes by he brings me a present.) You see God has equipped Brother Jerry to be a remarkable singer and songwriter, and during each visit he shares with me, (again me, of all people) a newly written song in his heart - and I am so honored. I care less about what my co-workers think when they hear this angelic voice singing praises at the workplace, or what they may think about the redness of my eyes when the visit is complete. God has blessed us with His presence and that’s all that matters. Anyway, this visit brought about an invitation to come worship at his church while they were having revival services the next week.

As I made the 35 – 40 mile journey to his church in upper east Tennessee for the second time last week, I listened to songs sung by the beautiful, and blind Ginny Owens who just happens to perform for Rocketown Records, which was formed by my former fellow-church member in Franklin, Tn. Michael W. Smith several years ago. (strings of a circle) As I pulled into the parking lot Ginny was just finishing up with the song If You want me to, and for a moment I felt comfort - while still in the mist of a very tough week. Thankfully God calls us into periods of growth to make us stronger, because He alone knows where we’re heading. “Putting on our strength” as I was reminded yesterday. Putting on our strength.

Anyway, I made my way to an empty seat (in the almost full to capacity small country sanctuary) and began to worship among strangers, among fellow sinners. Brother Jerry and his nephew Lamar were sitting at the front, and there across from me sat Sister Lois simply waiting for me with a beautiful smile to share. As the service progressed, several people went forward to sing God’s praises, yet I was disappointed that God didn’t lead Jerry to do so. Then the pastor made his way to the pulpit and I thought to myself that the “preaching” would soon begin - but instead he looked to his left and asked, “Brother Ray has God placed a song on your heart tonight?”

And there he was - almost ageless, some 35 years into the future, shaved head and all. Not broken, not defeated, not passed away – but still fighting the good fight that the Apostle Paul spoke of, and still enduring to the end. What a sight through my tear filled eyes – and I heard God say "Hey Doug, remember when?"

and then, for me the real revival began…….doug