Hello Friends and Family,
I have had a very tough time over the past ten days or so. It started with God placing on my heart to do some writing for the blog because writing provides me healing along the way. It started okay, but I was all over the map with emotion and pain. I began week ago last Saturday night at 11:00 and didn’t stop writing until about 4:00 the next morning. I wrote a lot of good stuff, but there is more to write to complete that series of blogs. However, that was only the beginning of the tough time.
About a year to eighteen months before Danene was diagnosed with kidney cancer, her second cousin, Sharon, was also diagnosed with kidney cancer. Sharon’s fight with this retched disease has taken a different path from that of Danene, and a week ago Sunday I found out that Sharon is not doing so well. Sharon was unable to come to Danene’s Celebration of Life service because she was recovering from a surgery (the cancer had shown up in her pancreas). The latest news was that the cancer came back in other areas, the pancreas and now the lungs. This news has brought back painful memories for me. Please be praying for Sharon as she starts on a new path of treatment soon. I don’t know what type of relationship Sharon had with Jesus when all of this started, but I do know, and she has shared with other family members, that whatever the outcome she is secure in her future with Jesus. I pray that through her fight others may come to know Jesus just as people have come to know Christ through Danene’s fight.
Everywhere I went this past week I had reminders of my wife; a card she wrote, a picture of her in my office, and note in my lunchbox. After receiving the news of Sharon, I hurt. Last Saturday night I wanted to do more writing, but I felt that I needed to spend time with Zac, which was good for both of us. I went to bed at 12:00 after falling asleep in the recliner; I was awakened by a dream of Danene. She looked so good; she was whole, healthy, and had a smile that could light up a room. For those of you who knew her, you know that to be true. I asked Danene a question, “What are you doing here?” She answered, “I have been given a second chance on life, and I will tell you more about it later.” With that Danene smiled, and then I woke up. I was troubled by this dream and for the next two hours I was awake in bed, thinking about what all this meant. As I listened to her IPod, I thought about the dream. While I’m not Joseph from the Bible (Genesis 37, and that’s what Pastor Larry spoke about this Sunday morning), I do have an interpretation of the dream. Let me tell you more details about this dream.
I was driving a truck up a road, and it was raining to the point that I couldn’t see the pavement. It was dark and then light, then the rain stopped. The next thing I know, I was driving off road into the mountains, bouncing over rocks and boulders and plowing through the mud. Then I came to a stop, with wrecks and crashed vehicles everywhere. I got out of the truck and walked to the top of the hill. I heard worship music and there were people all around; it looked like a church picnic, but it was not an ordinary church gathering; it was God’s Church and this scene could be in Heaven. That’s when I saw Danene. We walked for just a little while (not saying anything), sat down, and were singing the worship song when I asked her my question. She gave me a smile and answered, and then pointed to God, the one we were there for. It was as if Danene wanted me to keep my eyes on God. So here goes the interpretation of the dream.
The drive and road travelled is the journey we call life. We travel this path alone, with rain, sunshine, wrecks, crashes, rocks, and mud (and yes, we do get dirty) and then we walk to the top of the hill. Danene has traveled this road. The second chance in life is this; that we have a chance of Everlasting Life, but only when we have a relationship with the Living God and His Son Jesus Christ. But we need to be focused on Jesus. If we make this relationship the priority we don’t need to travel this road alone. Jesus is there to guide us and direct our path if we allow him. Please don’t lose sight of the prize which is eternity with Jesus in Heaven. Remember the Scripture I referenced in my last blog, Matthew 6:33; don’t just seek Jesus first, but seek HIS RIGHTOUSNESS, also. Then read the promise in verse 34.
Join me in the journey of life and be focused on Jesus, and you too will see your loved ones that have gone before you. I know that I will get to see Danene someday and until that day comes, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
There are two songs that I have listened to a number of times. The first one is Matthew West’s, “Save a Place for Me”. The song that helped put these thoughts together this morning is by Mercy Me, “Homesick”. Please take the time to listen to the words of these songs that help me get through this journey called life.
You will hear from me soon with other blogs as God directs me because life is not about me, it’s about God.
Danene’s partner in life, Matt.
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