Some Bright Morning...
10/22/2009
I'd like to share a little story to add perspective to the final six-week struggle we had for Jaymun's life here.
...something I've only shared with a few people till now.
To understand this you will need to be familiar with a literary classic from the seventeenth-century,
Pilgrim's Progress.
John Bunyan (a tinker who was imprisoned for preaching without a license) penned this allegory. His character
travels through life on a journey to the celestial city. There were some beautiful and inspiring times,
but also some very tough and scary moments where his faith was tried. It has been years since I've read the
book, but I will always remember the scariest part
...his journey through the valley of the shadow of death.
Those vivid images were what I had in mind late September and again
early October.
It was as if I could see Christian's path looming, with the steep ditches, fire, quicksand, smoke, fog, confusing noises
...the impossibility of knowing where our next step was going to fall.
On a Sunday morning last month, before caring for Jaymun became a 24 / 7 job, as we stood singing (worship time in church),
I was telling God how afraid I was because we were headed into perilous places again with Jaymun.
The scenes replayed in my mind, and with head bowed and arms lifted up I pleaded with our Saviour
that He would hold our hands and go with us, leading us and keeping us safe. Just like last year,
I reminded our Lord that as long as He went before us, we would follow Him anywhere. I was verbally affirming my trust for Him,
knowing that this could mean even tougher times, tasks, and lessons to come.
At that moment the musicians burst into a new song, and everyone followed along clapping and singing "I'll fly away".
And I had a fresh revelation that there will be an absolute time, possibly soon,
where Jesus will lead us to a victory that is not here on earth but up and away to glory.
That despite happiness and sorrow, ups and downs, peace and struggle, Jesus is our Champion. That eventually when troubles repeat to the point
of "impossibility", He has gone before conquering death and opening the door to heaven.
After church I told Pastor Rich "in this battle, either way we win".
Now I'm not saying that reduced the fight this past month, or removed
all the confusion and pain ...now Jennifer and I have a constant, dull ache where the love and excitement of our little man was before.
But hearing this story might help you better understand some of my comments the last weeks about winning and the victor title to this website.
This fight was a little different than back in 2006, or even 2008 because now God was preparing us for the
heartbreaking transition of Jaymun going home to be with Him.
Neither am I saying that we now understand what happened, or comprehend how much this hurts.
But somewhere mixed in with the dull heartache is a longing for the time when my duties here below will be completed.
When the sun sets on what God's grace has performed here, and a new day dawns where I will see Jaymun again...
|
Some bright morning when this life is over
I'll fly away To that home on God's celestial shore I'll fly away |
When the shadows of this life have gone
I'll fly away Like a bird from these prison walls I'll fly I'll fly away | |
|
Oh how glad and happy when we meet I'll fly away No more cold iron shackles on my feet I'll fly away |
Just a few more weary days and then
I'll fly away To a land where joys will never end I'll fly away |
I'll fly away oh glory
I'll fly away (in the morning)
When I die hallelujah by and by
I'll fly away
