I’ll provide a health update after I share this brief quote that crossed my computer this morning and stirred my heart. This is a more profound treasure in the mine of love. You cannot fairly hope in God’s gracious love towards you in your brokenness if you also don’t share it with those who haven’t “earned” yours.
Love the Person You See by SØREN KIERKEGAARD
We foolish people often think that when a person has changed for the worse we are exempted from loving him. What a confusion in language: to be exempt from loving. As if it were a matter of compulsion, a burden one wished to cast away! If this is how you see the person, then you really do not see him; you merely see unworthiness, imperfection, and admit thereby that when you loved him you did not really see him but saw only his excellence and perfections. True love is a matter of loving the very person you see. The emphasis is not on loving the perfections, but on loving the person you see, no matter what perfections or imperfections that person might possess.
Real love continues no matter how much a person changes.
Love is not an obligation nor obedience; it is a different way of living in a river of love that comes from the Father’s heart and flows through us to touch the world. Loved by him and then loving with him is where his glory dwells.
And of course this does not mean we have to maintain contact with people who are abusive or toxic. We can still love them, though, even from afar without letting ourselves continue to be a target for their anger and vengeance, in hopes that one day his light will dawn in their darkness.
Health update:
Thank you for all the emails, comments, notes, and calls expressing your love and prayers for us in this season. I am now three weeks from my back surgery, and the pain has lessened appreciably. I still have much to deal with there, but I have greater freedom of movement and have even been able to take some short walks (really short!) with Sara. I have begun treatments for the underlying cancer, and we are very hopeful that this will mitigate further damage. However, this is a long and challenging regimen, and it will be some time before we know its true impact.
So, my time, energy, and focus are limited. I can respond to some emails and enjoy phone calls with friends, but I’m only doing what God seems to inspire me to do each day. I am not worried about trying to keep up with any workload; this will continue to be a time of healing for the foreseeable future. Through it all, Sara has been God‘s greatest gift to me, though I know it is also taking its toll on her. Pray for her strength to endure these days and the wisdom to know when to take a break and care for herself. Hopefully, as I can do more, she will not be so taxed.
In all of this, Sara and I are not without hope—that our God reigns, that every breath we take is in his hands, and that the works of darkness will not thwart his purpose in us. I am grateful to be his son and to live in his growing grace and revelation. Kyle and I may even record a podcast next week, strength permitting, to process some of what I’m learning in this stretch of the journey for those who are interested.
In our prayers for my condition, I always remember Jenny, a friend from the UK who has been suffering longer and far more deeply than me. Whenever I am before the Lord for my health, I am before him for hers, too. I’ve written about her on this blog as a gifted poet finding real faith amid desperate need. She needs some significant help right now if you have some means to help her. And please pray for her too as you pray for me.
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Thanks Wayne for your update. I have followed TGJ for many years and was saddened by your health news. Your life, way of processing is an encouragement. If strength permits, I would welcome a podcast conversation as to your processing this space(meaning to hear you and Kyle….or whatever works out). Praying that Jesus will bless and keep you and Sara. Sue
Thank you, Sue.
Wayne, You’re such an inspiration and testament to God’s ability to explore new reaches of His love and thereness in our lives. Yes, he is always “there” and it’s so captivating to my heart to hear the story of your life every time a new chapter is opened. However, this latest chapter is not something any of us want to hear for you. No doubt God will sustain regardless of the challenges you are facing.
I have no medical advice or secret remedies to share. All that we can do is sit next to Jesus and ask him to take care of our friends Wayne and Sara who have shared so much of their lives to help others. There’s no doubt He is already working this out and as you shared in your blog, whether tomorrow or next year he’s at work.
It seems like it’s time for you both to rest and receive counsel and encouragement and love from those around you. Maybe this is truly a time of rest for your soul and body in preparation for who knows what? Only Father knows what lies ahead. Who knows what adventures he has in store and I pray you will both be a part of those new adventures. Take care my brother and sister!
Scott
I like the “Who knows?” Who really does? That’s why we get to follow what he gives us today and know we’ll be right where he wants us when the time comes.
Hi Wayne
Thanks you always for your encouraging words and insights regarding many spiritual issues that affect our walk as believers. You are so on the money with your comments and statements of truth. Thank you bigtime!
May I encourage you to do something? You might not like it…but it is the truth…
Please check out these upcoming videos by Ty and Charlene Bollinger (longterm christians like ourselves) that show that there are other more effective ways of curing cancer than going the Big Pharma route, i.e. radiation, chemotherapy and surgery.
Bio— Charlene & Ty Bollinger are founders of The Truth About Cancer®. After losing several family members to cancer (including Ty’s mother and father), they refused to accept the notion that chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery were the most effective treatments available for cancer patients. They began a quest to learn all they possibly could about alternative cancer treatments and the medical industry. What they uncovered was shocking. There is ample evidence to support the allegation that the “war on cancer” is largely a fraud and that multinational pharmaceutical companies are “running the show.” —-
iI’m your age Wayne and 2 of my closest friends – same age levels as ourselves – just died within 2 weeks of each other from wrongful treatment of cancer via the allopathic medicine routine, i.e., radiation,chemotherapy and surgery. So, please, please and please again…check out these talks which are free right now to listen to and you can sign up for them here: https://go.propaganda-exposed.com/?a_bid=f9f117e3&a_aid=5a84a1f683718 Episode 3 begins tomorrow and there are a total of 9 videos each lasting about 90 mins for this docu-series about Big Pharma and many other important issues tied at the hip with modern medicine today..
Ok, all the best with your recovery and we will be praying for you from this end of the world ok?
God bless you and your family. J from Europe.
Jim, people who suffer with physical battles like me, don’t always find this kind of information helpful. I know you mean well, but you’re assuming that Sara and I have not done the due diligence to check into other options. It doesn’t help that you beg for me to do something you think might be best. Please don’t do this to others unless they ask and even then come gently to open doors not push. I’ve had many friends die in spite of medical treatment, and many die ignoring their condition or using alternative options. The reality is we all die. The human condition is terminal. I’m no fan of the economics and greed of Big Pharma, but our culture has greatly benefited from drugs they have developed. That, too, is God’s way of healing.