My great-grandmother went blind with diabetes and when she laughed, her glass eye would shoot across the room. My great uncles who were older fought in Iwo Jima and then, Iwo Jima fought within them, but they almost never said a word about it. My grandmother kept having every type of every organization bully the sweet hearted generous woman into giving money and I would pick up the phone and hear fake “Publishers Clearing House” callers using voice machines and all of the technology was beyond what she could understand. Same with my great-grandmother, she would talk patiently to the machine recorded messages and minister to them and she would minister to everybody else, even in her blindness and she would brighten their days and make them laugh.

Losing my mind, the hardest part was having the faith to think anyone might come through, because everybody immediately ran away and I didn’t blame them, but my grandmother went into dementia with great courage and never stopped laughing or smiling and I spent the last 4 months of her life celebrating Christmas, because if she wasn’t going to know what day it was, it might as well be Christmas…. [pyasst]

Reading your heartbreaking story reminded me of Jesus crying over Jerusalem as he pondered some of the tragedies soon to fall on that city, “if only I could gather you under my wings like a mother hen protecting her chicks…” Think of that: God’s own Son saying “if only.” Sometimes we’re powerless to help those we love most. You say that your son cut off communication, which was his choice, a bad choice, like others he had made. You did what you could. Some things, no one can do. It’s very touching that your main concern isn’t so much getting over your own guilt but rather your concern about how merciful God is to your son. I have a belief that God sees us through the lens of the time we showed greatest faith. Jesus responded to every glimmer of faith; only in his home town could he “do no miracles” because there was no faith. He also defined mercy. He came for the sick and not the well, the sinners and not the righteous. Surely he understands your son; surely he sees the tiniest glimmer of faith in your son’s life–like the Prodigal Son who could hardly say a word of remorse before being swallowed up in grace. Manning, Nouwen, Lamont–you’re reading just the right authors. I hope you also have grace-filled, compassionate friends who can surround you just now.
Philip

We must treat every life as if it has value. This is not an easy task because the enemy will attack anyone who seeks to uphold the ideals and teachings of Christ. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, passersby regarded the beaten man with revulsion. He was beneath contempt. In the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, Jesus again showed us how the world views the poor and the defenseless. The parables show how God views things and how different His views are from mortals.

We must strive to help the poor, the oppressed, and those whom are harassed on the job for living as a disciple of Christ. We must do this if we are to be like Christ. Because in truth, what we do to others we also do to God.

I agree with all the comments above. May I just say how precious your books ‘Soul Survivor’ and ‘The Jesus I never knew’ and ‘Prayer’ have become in recent years. I cant describe how important it has been for me to read a trusted Christian author who expresses what I was afraid to admit: the church has hurt and confused me, but I can’t stop seeking God. Thank you for your honesty, authenticity, and for the way you see God in places the church of my childhood never will. You have brought fresh life to my faith, always pointing me to the amazing God of the Bible, your humility is perhaps what most draws me to your writing. Bless you!

Growing up a Kansas farm boy,
Life was mostly having fun,
Riding on his daddy’s shoulders,
Behind a mule beneath the sun. John Denver.

I had an uncle who sent me a book every year until I got to 17 years old, and he also a w/w2 vet passed away from heart problems.. I still miss him.
He taught me the love of books and reading.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story.
Love you,
Avenel.

Your friend
Judy