I'm still dealing with probably the roughest call I've responded to in almost 7 years on the fire department. What started out as our rescue squad being called out for a missing person turned into a two day search involving over 130 people from multiple agencies.
This was so different than the other calls I've responded to in the past. In cases of fire or auto accident, the damages are already done, the property lost, the injuries sustained. In this case, we had a 40 year old autistic, diabetic man with the functional level of a 5 year old who had wandered off from home. To make matters worse, he couldn't speak or respond when called.
While we hoped our efforts would end in finding Kyle & providing the medication he desperately needed, the radio call "Code 99" for the coroner around noon yesterday signalled the end of our search.
It's the first call that's made me cry.
During one emotional moment last night, Jen reminded me that Kyle's with Jesus now, that his thoughts are clear, he can speak, and he'll spend eternity freed from his imperfect, human body.
A merciful God wouldn't have it any other way. Pray for his family as they cope with this loss.
As I sit here at my desk, I find myself feeling very...tired. Our internship program is short a few people this year & it means I'm in the teaching schedule more than usual. It's been a long week in the rain, the sun, the heat, and the record cold of the past few days. Couple that with the fact that I'm still recovering from a case of pneumonia...you guessed it. It's been a challenge.
Human beings are a funny bunch when it comes to challenges. I see it all the time on our ropes courses. When we encounter resistance of any kind, our natural inclination is to take ourselves out of the fire. After all, hardship=BAD, doesn't it?
However, God gives us the ability, the grace, to overcome ANY challenge in our lives. It doesn't mean He takes it away. If anything, He wouldn't be the loving Father that He is if He prematurely removed us from the tempering fire of our refining.
I'm tired, but I'm good, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
I got to shoot my friends Mike & Katie's wedding up in northern Michigan the weekend of August 18th at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It was a small wedding, mostly the wedding party & immediate family. The ceremony took place on the beach, about a 2 mile hike from the trailhead. It was absolutely gorgeous, and their wedding was a powerful example of God's love & the miracle uniting of husband and wife.
I thought that was an appropriate title.
I've been examining my life the past few weeks (not a bad thing to do from time to time), and I find myself desiring to be reduced. As I get older and I start thinking of what kind of legacy I'll leave behind when God calls me home, I find myself wanting to be known for one thing, the only thing that truly matters:
He loved God.
Just like a reduction in cooking, moisture is boiled off, leaving a more concentrated product behind. My prayer is that, as God works out this process in my life, that the end result would be a life marked by the unmistakable aroma of Christ.
Ok, I know that any parent will immediately think that their children win hands-down any contest determining who's the cutest, but you have to admit that Olivia's developing into some stiff competition. (Ha!)
Seriously, though, I never cease to be amazed at her growth. Right now she's REALLY determined to crawl. She gets so frustrated because she hasn't yet figured out that she has to use both her arms and her legs at the same time! She is learning to shimmy in reverse pretty well.
