It was a cold and snowy night back in January 2010. My wife had gone in for a routine outpatient surgery that ended up being anything but normal. During the intubation for the surgery, her airway collapsed and she was left sedated and unconscious. Not knowing for certain why her airway had closed, the doctors left her in this state (sedated and intubated) for a few days in ICU while they tried to determine the best next steps.
When they finally decided to put a trach in to assist her breathing, she awoke, but was unable to talk. She was laboring to breath and in a very difficult position. Not wanting to promise anything they could not deliver, the doctors would not say whether or not she would ever talk again or to what degree her breathing would improve.
With a small child at home, it was an anxious time for both Kimberly and I. At one moment, and at the height of my troubled thoughts, I went to the lobby of the health plex and was crying out to God, wondering if He would act, and feeling quite alone. It was in this moment, in the middle of the night during an Oklahoma snowstorm that two friends came walking into the hospital looking for me. They stopped and sat with me for a few moments and then prayed for us.
I was wondering where God was … and then He showed up, embodied by His people. Though we would have to wait several days to see physical progress on Kimberly’s condition (she fully recovered), there was a triage of the soul that occurred in the lobby that night. These friends leaned in, and God used their prayers to lift me up!
I share all this today because on Sunday, November 15 at Wildwood Community Church, we will be celebrating “Pure Religion” Sunday, highlighting Wildwood’s ministry to widows and orphans. Our theme for this Sunday will be to “Lean In”: to have a ministry of presence in the lives of the vulnerable in our community. We will see how we can show up for those in need to be Christ’s hands and feet to care for the hurting and to support those who are delivering this care.
Looking forward to worshipping with you on Sunday morning in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 services as we explore this topic together. See you there … and bring friends. Let us lean in and be present with one another as we see God’s heart for those in need.