Honored in another Blog

You know its funny. I write this blog for just a few reasons.

 

1.       It is a chance to journal the remarkable things that our heavenly father does in my life

2.       It hopefully provides some encouragement for others who are searching for God

3.       It acts as a reminder for me when I am struggling with sin

4.       It teaches me to be courageous and provides me a small activity in living the great commission

 

That’s it, that’s why “Least of my brothers” exists. I have never publicized the blog. I have never tried any search engine optimization. In fact the only time I have ever shared its existence is with a hurting brother or sister a story it contains believing it will help them.

 

So imagine my surprise when I received an email from someone representing www.christiancolleges.com telling me that my blog had been listed in their 100 enlightening bible study blogs. I can only hope that such publicity and recognition will lead to other brothers and sisters being encouraged by reading this blog.

So check it out here.

Ron 

Limping Out: Final

the journey back to normalcy was almost as fascinating as the exodus from the mountains. A week after the event still limping badly I attended worship for the first time. Raising my arms in praise was a new sensation. My chest stung as I did so. My heart leapt for joy. Tears streamed down my face as I realized what God had done for me anew.

Two weeks after in my small group we worshiped again. This time as I sang the words of Mercy Me "We all fall down" No I am not making this up. As we sang this song the words came alive. This was true worship. The stinging of my chest was a gentle reminder of my ordeal while the words echoed in the hills. God spoke to me in this moment. 

I was with you always you did not need to hear from me. I am with you always. I walked you out.

I was stunned. In an instant the whole journey made perfect sense. All the times he spoke to me. All the guidance, the protection, the laughter, it was all him. I was stunned. 

Please do not think I got all this the day of the accident I had no clue. It took two weeks and time in worship for it to be revealed.

Throughout this time I believed I was already healed. Nothing broken, just bruises. Through these stripes God wanted me to learn a lesson. My ribs did not crack, my ankle did not break, ligaments intact. How could this have happened? 

Did you catch the psalm?

Praise be to the LORD, 
       for he has heard my cry for mercy.

 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; 
       my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. 
       My heart leaps for joy 
       and I will give thanks to him in song.

I love it when I get to see a part of God's plan come together.

Praise be to the father the son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Limping Out: Part 3

Through necessity I did this day. You see the ankle sprain I had sustained was so severe that when eventually examined it was thought to be 100% certainly broken. The rib and chest pain I described, that was a collapsed lung and bruised chest. Every breathe was a labor to survive. I was told had I not come in to urgent care I would not have been able to breathe by the end of the day. Remember my post on reaching the end of your breath as the start of God’s?!!! THIS WAS THAT DAY. I had no hope of making it out unless God walked at my side carrying me along the way. There was no crutch, no walking stick, no rescue, only a rugged uneven loose rocky terrain of the San Gabriel mountain range. Did I mention this is the home of mountain lions, Coyotes, and other wild creatures. Not a good situation. So I got up and began to walk out, limp out with God.

 

Along the way I was reminded of the prayers I had said that very morning. Prayers of protection, prayers where I claimed the healing power of Christ, prayers where I claimed the power of the Holy Spirit in casting out evil. Amazingly powerful prayer. Each step was a labor, not too much pressure on the left foot not too much compensation on the right chest. Shooting pain on a foot for an incorrect step, blazing fire in my chest when I breathed too deep or compensated for my ankle. It was a no win situation. Three miles to go, 2.75 miles to go, 2.5 miles to go. A mountain biker, a hard core guy, my kind of rider labored up to me issuing a faint greeting of beautiful day isn’t it?! Fantastic I countered, have a great ride. It was all I could muster more words would have been like fire in my chest.

 

But why didn’t you ask him for help?!!!

 

I had already decided that this was God’s turn. He would save me from this place. He would be my deliverer. This was my Egypt, he is my King. No, some mountain biker would do me no good on this journey. 

2.25 miles 

Pain seemed to envelop me, panic was lurking in the shadows. This was not going to be easy could we make it I wondered more than once. Could this battered body make it out even with God as its guide? 

2.0 miles: 

Passing by places from happier hikes time with God in prayer, time with wind whipping through my hair times of promise, times of joy. Today was a labor today was dependence.

1.75 miles: 

There were steps where I swear my ankle stopped hurting. My mind said pick up the pace this is a bad dream. Was this the edge of shock and delirium? No this was God. Remember the serenity prayer and the story of how two sets of prints became one? God was carrying me out in this time. This was not of me. 

1.5 miles: 

How can this be God? Why did this happen? I protected you, remember the psalm? He asked. Why does it hurt so much Lord I can’t take it . Remember my son? What was his pain like for you? I am with you even now. 

1.25 miles:

I can see the end of the trail it is a long way off but I can see it for the first time. Can we make it God? I trust you. Will my ankle get that far? 

1.0 miles: 

Father why am I not angry that this happened? Why does this seem like only an inconvenience? Why the range of emotion? Why the JOY?!!! 

0.75 Miles: 

Oh the biker again. Laughter He still can’t help me. Have a great ride! Have a great hike he responds. If only he knew! This was the hike of lifetime. Limping out with God. 

0.5 miles: 

What! You have got to be kidding me a JEEP!? Man too late no way we finish what we started God and man (injured man) How’s it going guys, enjoy your ride. 

0.25 miles: 

Time for the cell phone not much battery left but enough to make the call. Kim (my wife) please come get me now! Are you okay? A voice of genuine concern she can hear the labor and pain in my voice. Just come get me I will tell you when you arrive. 

0.0 miles:

Relief God has carried me out of the wilderness. Praise his holy and faithful name.

 

Only joy remained in my soul as my wife pulled up and I carefully managed to get into her car. Yes the human emotions wreaked havoc on my mind. In less than 4 hours I would travel the entire grief cycle while waiting for and between medical care. Urgent care confirmed the extent of my injuries and marveled at how I was able to get out of the mountains. Not me I knew how, it was a God thing. I ended up travelling by ambulance to the local hospital where after many pain killing drugs a chest tube was inserted to address my collapsed lung. It is funny to consider that despite the vicadin, adavan and morphine and whatever else was in the cocktail they gave me I had once and for all experienced the peace that surpasses all understanding. I was joyful, I was content.  

 

Amazingly this was not the end of the story...

Limping Out: Part 2

I chose the latter…

 

Before I knew it I went from a careful slow walk to a careening reckless freight train heading into a rock face. With every step my pace quickened. Could this be happening I asked. Slow down on the flat I reasoned. You’re going kind of fast I cautioned. There was no slowing down every step became more and more a sprint toward the hard packed dirt and rock ground of my mountain playground. I fought to keep in control ever accelerating. 5 feet from the bottom I was at full sprint. The thought of slowing down now seemed impossible. My body knew what was coming. 2 feet: Thoughts of I can make it, slow down on the flat , were engulfed by how the heck did we get this much speed up. You better be able to stop this could be bad. 1 foot: This is going to hurt, aw crap! My left ankle rolled under the unbearable pounding of velocity and change in direction. My body continued its relentless downward journey until hard earth smacked into it. THWACK! Roll after roll to a dusty dazed stop in the dirt.

 

With a scream of anguish I yelled. It did not hurt yet, this was a scream of frustration, stupidity, and the slow rising blood of pain. This was bad. I am 3  miles from ANYWHERE. What will I do.

 

Then a thought came over me. God this is NOT what I had in mind when I said I wanted to hear from you. Laughter. I laughed until it hurt. I laughed with God, I laughed at myself until it hurt. Unfortunately that did not take much.

 

I did a body inventory as I have always done when I fall. Check the joints (oh left ankle bad I can feel the blood rushing there even now) legs fine, head fortunately fine clear thinking no blood phew! Arms ouch right elbow stinging and the cool sensation of blood hitting the cool mountain air. Otherwise arms good. Chest: why does it hurt to breathe? Oh this is bad cracked some ribs for sure, deep stabbing pain on each breathe with my whole right chest erupting in fire with every touch. That can’t be good.

 

Again survey the situation. 3 miles from and possible means of rescue, in the middle of the wilderness late morning. Know anyone with a 4 by that can come get you? No would take too long anyway. Want to call 911 and wait for med-evac? NO that would cost a fortune although it would be cool to do the MASH 4077 helicopter ride. NO GET UP AND WALK OUT. Was it my voice or God’s? In my pain fogged state I had no idea.

 

Have you ever depended so completely on God that you gave yourself no room to be on your own?

to be continued...