Yesterday I visited Dirk who is once again subjected to more days and nights in the hospital. As I drove to Grand Rapids, I anticipated entering into a hellhole with him. I don't use that word lightly. I do mean, for Dirk, a hospital room, I thought, represents a backwards slide, loss of progress, stepping away from healing and back into more needles, beeps, medications, unanswered questions and fear. Hell. In a hole of a room. Stinkin' 5C again. You know what? As God does sometimes, quite the opposite occurred. I was invited instead to come and see, for a moment, the very presence of God and I guess I'm writing it here to you guys because I want to go and tell. Through Dirk's words and in his eyes and smile, I saw God's presence radiating brightly and I need to go and tell (thanks for listening, guys)
Is Dirk well? No. Not his definition of well. Not physically. He has to eat like it's his job. He's on extreme medications inflicting side effects that would break the average person's resolve. His cells and very body are at civil war with each other. He is not currently blessed with a body that functions well enough to allow him to take up his place that he has enjoyed for years, this calling he is and remains so deeply invested in.
Instead of remaining in the painful loss of that reality for now, Dirk has chosen to go about working to learn about and take up a new calling. He is serving God in mighty ways. He is choosing to seek God's wisdom in the midst of chaos. He is reading, talking, thinking, praying and being really honest. Honest with God, honest with people and honest with himself. In that honesty and while placing the dreams of his former self in a heap of ashes for now at the Father's throne, Dirk has experienced a very raw, nearly inexplicable peace. Frankly, this peace is a bit out of character for the scrappy fighter that he is. But he is enjoying and a bit mystified by a blessed new and profound peace. His body is still raging on and that fight makes its way up to his head (and out of his mouth) from time to time. It needs to. But his soul has been blessed with profound peace. What else is that except the hand of God blessing our brother with a new calling for now and peace in that space? I know I speak confidently for all of us when I say that we'll certainly continue to pray this man to wholeness and get back to his former calling. But these days he's spending living in the desert he has seen and known a closeness to God's heart that has reshaped him in an everlasting way. It is a marvel to behold. It stirs my soul.
Maybe that same story of hope can translate to our own lives, our classrooms and our stories. Sometimes we find ourselves in messes and in the midst of chaos which feels confusing and frustrating. Perhaps there's hope we can find for ourselves in Dirk's story and the lessons he's trying so hard to choose to live out. We are servants of the King. He rushes to chaos and transforms messes into his beauty in his time. Thank you for listening to all of this. I pray each of you will be blessed by rest and joy this weekend. Please know that all you do here at South Side, you do so well and it's clear that you serve with your heart! May you bless in unique ways this weekend and also be blessed in unique ways!
Chapel
Wednesday the 14th at our typical time.
K-2 Staff Meeting
Thursday the 15th over the lunch hour
PK Staff Meeting
November 28 over the lunch hour at South Side please
Parent Team Christmas Tea
Thursday, December 20 will be our annual Christmas Tea gifted to us from the parent team. They have asked that you send the message to your classroom parents requesting lunch coverage.
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