As I drove from my office to my studio yesterday, the first song I heard was one called “the story isn’t over”. It’s ironic, since Rob and I often talked about the story of our friendship isn’t over…. even when I thought it was for more than 10 years.
When we first talked last year about partnering to buy the building that is now the studio I dreamed of, I told him that I felt like Gods purpose in that place was bigger than me, bigger than him, bigger than both of us together. I felt like God chose that particular place for some reason. We talked about the healing and forgiveness that took place in our friendship, the restoration that God brought to broken things in both of our lives… and how He wants to do that for all of us. Rob talked about the path of destruction he’s left behind him due to bad decisions, and consequences of those decisions that brought pain.
We looked forward to the story that God is writing through our lives, both individually and through the studio. He allowed me to dream endless possibilities and “we could do…”s. We talked about the fact that he challenged me and I challenged him, and we both respected each other enough to let the other share their opinions openly, without fear of condemnation or judgement. We’d encourage one another to dream and challenge one another to try new things, new perspectives. We made perfect business partners, in my opinion. Many people spend a lifetime never having a friend like that. I’ve never truly felt unconditional love for someone before, but God has given me a glimpse of His unconditional love for us. Maybe because I am far enough removed from the decisions of Robs past, I am able to acknowledge them without judgment, and gently encourage him to blaze a new path in Gods goodness. I feel incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to learn a small piece of what Gods love is all about, and am now beginning to apply what I’ve learned to other relationships in my life.
When I left the studio, I called the hospital where Rob is to see if he’d been moved to the rehabilitation center they talked about moving to… they hadn’t moved him yet, so I stopped to see him, since the hospital is about 5 minutes from the studio. He was sleeping when I got there, and I prayed that God would give him a few lucid moments with me. He opened his eyes and said my name, reached out to hug me, and I prayed with him.
My request, as it has been for the past 14 months, since he told me he has cancer, is that God would give Rob 15 more years of good health, as he did to King Hezzekiah in Isaiah 38. fifteen years for Rob to tell his story of Gods transformation in his life…
I tucked his covers around him as he curled into an almost fetal position, kissed the top of his head and prayed one last time. As I left, I stopped by the nurses station to thank them for caring for him. His nurse told me that they were still running some tests to try to understand what happened. They believe something neurological, so the Neurologist wants to review. They haven’t given up on understanding what happened. They’ve tested to see if his cancer spread but haven’t found any. They didn’t want to move him until they finished with some more testing.
Dear Lord, my prayer is that You will guide the doctors to uncover the root cause of Robs issue. I pray You will bring healing to his body and mind, restore him and give him a voice to share Your miracles. If that is not Your will, Lord, I pray that You would take him Home. I know he knows Jesus as his Savior and will be with You in Heaven. I am trusting You with the studio… after all, it is Yours. If it is Your that this studio thrives where it stands, I trust You will provide the means. If it is not to be, I pray You will guide me and direct me in next steps. In all of this situation, I pray that You alone would be glorified.
In Your Name I pray
Amen
Journey-For-Life 