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10/13/2011

IN THE GRASP OF GOD'S LOVE, THE WORLD SHRINKS

On Monday Diane and I took a two hour R&R drive into Amish Country. We found a nice Bed & Breakfast in Millersburg and then walked the downtown area looking at the quaint shops. Our favorite was called Gallery Furniture where we were captivated by the interior decorating artistry of their delightful owner, Tracey, who told us of her own family’s United Methodist connections.

BED & BREAKFASTWhen we returned to the B&B, I thought I recognized one of the other guests who would be sharing the 4-bedroom Victorian house with us. When I introduced myself I found that Steve Meyer had graduated from high school with me 44 years ago. We had a lot of catching up to do at breakfast the next morning, pledging to now stay connected.

During breakfast I got a call telling me that 56-year-old Chris Faine had been rushed to Riverside Hospital in Columbus with a blood infection that might take his life. Diane and I immediately packed our bags and headed back home. Chris and his wife, Pat, have a precious little 5-year-old daughter, Katelyn, their only miracle child, who sings in Diane’s church choir.

By the time I had arrived at the hospital Tuesday afternoon, news was pretty grim. He was on a trachea, his kidneys had shut down, his blood pressure was dangerously low, and there was concern the infection would enter his liver. About the only good news was that his body temperature had come down from 96 degrees.

I met some of Chris’ extended family, including a first cousin who had flown in fromFlorida. We all gathered into a private room, held hands, and prayed. It was the kind of prayer where God’s Holy Spirit presence made me feel lightheaded and weak-kneed.

After I said my good-byes the family went back into Chris’ room to find that his blood pressure had begun rising, his breathing was not as labored, and his color had started to return.

The progress has not stopped and the prayer chains have mysteriously reached about every state in the country. Today on Thursday as I stood beside Chris’ bed holding his hand and watching him try to communicate with everyone in the room, Tracey from the Millersburg furniture store walked in. She hugged me and said that she was Chris’ cousin. We both had tears of joy and praised God for how incredibly small the world becomes when you are within his loving grasp. We can’t wait for the witness Chris will make one of these days after his recovery. In the meantime, many of us will be the ones testifying to God’s power and goodness.  


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