The long road

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I don’t understand why there has to be so much pain, so much fear, so much weight. But there is. Just look around: our world is cracked and bleeding and broken. I turned on the news last night, but had to turn it off again – my brain simply could not handle more problems. I know that war and politics and gas prices are a really big deal, but currently, in my own tiny mind, they do not hold a candle to the realities that hit closer to home.

Several friends of mine are being faced with some insurmountable challenges, and I am doing my best to walk with them in whatever way I can, however small. The pain feels impossible. The road is rough and seemingly endless. I want to change everything for them, to write some nice words to wash away the anxiety, to point toward the safe way out. But I can’t. All that I can do is to abide, to stubbornly remain, to listen, and to pray. I have no words of resolution, and no ideas for healing. I cannot promise that everything is going to turn out alright. But I cannot leave.

One of these situations has reached a very dire point, and is worth mentioning today. Please pray for my friends Jeff and Carin, and their 3-year old son Ben. The results of today’s scans will determine future treatment options. It has been almost a year since Ben was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, and the Townes have walked through nothing less than hell on earth. I implore you all to please keep vigil with them today, and to pray for courage, trust, and complete healing for their sweet little spunky fighter.

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5 Comments

  1. MB on July 25, 2008 at 10:57 AM

    I’m praying for Ben, his family, and you. Thanks for sharing this.

  2. Rebecca on July 25, 2008 at 1:41 PM

    I’m praying, dear friend. xo

  3. Tad on July 25, 2008 at 2:30 PM

    Take comfort from this:
    Ben is lifted high on the prayers of thousands of saints.

    I feel a real hopeful sence for the Townes. I don’t know whether this scan will turn out the way we want or not. But I feel in my marrow that God’s not through with Ben, and not ready to call him home.

    Hoping and praying for Ben is drawing people closer together and to Christ than anything I’ve seen for a long time.

    Jeff was in the service last Sunday and looked pretty good.

  4. Sally on July 27, 2008 at 1:47 AM

    Different road, different beautiful faces along the way… Very, very same questions. I think if God has asked me what I wanted like He asked Solomon… I think I would ask for Rest, come what may, Rest.

    And I know we have it, but I somehow don’t know how to walk with it/ Him. Surely it’s for this side of heaven too. I am also, so often weary and heavy laden.

  5. THE PARSONS on July 28, 2008 at 7:38 AM

    We will be praying for them, I remember hearing about him last year, and putting myself in their place breaks my heart.

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