What We've Learned - Part 4

I remember it like it was yesterday. My wife called me on a Friday morning four weeks ago and notified me that her company would not be able to continue and would be closing its doors. Later, she dropped my son off at the church and with tears in her eyes went back to her office to pack up her belongings. I finished off what work that I could concentrate on and headed home.

That evening my wife and I were treated to Pizza Hut delivery with my in-laws. We had a good time discussing how our son had little idea about how big a deal this situation was. After hearing the news about her job, my wife cried in the car for a while with Jackson in the car. A few minutes into the tears and sniffling, my son asked Candace if she could get a tissue and blow her nose as her crying was "a little to loud." If only we could handle life's hard knocks with the ease of a child.

As my wife downloaded her day with her mom, I went to the bedroom, shut the door and spent some time reading the Bible. I went back to Mark 5, which I had read a few days earlier and was happy that I did.

After waiting for Jesus to arrive at his home and heal his daughter, Jairus receives news that she has died and that Jesus shouldn't bother. But Christ responds with great words of encouragement for the father - "Don't be afraid. Just have faith." As I read those words that Friday evening, I wept a little as the peace that only God brings came over me. Later on that evening, I read it to Candace before bed. Such a simple message, yet it carried so much power with it. Even though our life had become very unpredictable, we knew that God was with us and we didn't need to be afraid.

What We Learned - Part 3

Last year my wife was reading an article about the economy and what experts called "recession proof careers." She told me that both mental health and clergy where on the list. After my wife's company went bankrupt and she called me, choking back tears, to say that she no longer had a job, we now know that nothing is recession proof and that so called "experts" writing articles may have given themselves their title.

But even more than a lesson on sketchy journalism, my wife and I were reminded of a truth that has endured for thousands of years. There is only one place to find geniune, fail-safe security. As Psalm 144 describes, "The Lord is my loving ally, and my fortress, my tower of safety and rescuer. He is my shield and I take refuge in him." We knew this truth before my wife lost her job and was in a car accident. But it is in the midst of these life changing experiences that God's Word becomes very real.

Up until April 16, we had our life and future mapped out. We had our necessities and more taken care of. If we wanted to go out to eat, we jumped in the car and drove to the food court in the mall (we've always been pretty froogle). Honestly, we didn't have to worry if a check would clear. Yes, we were blessed, but honestly, had probably taken it for granted. More accurately, we unintentionally had assumed the sole responsibility of keeping our family and livelihood secure.

After losing her job, my wife remarked to me that "now we know where we really find our security." This comment was a stark contrast from our thinking a year before when the experts told us our careers made us safe. And as I was reflecting back on our experiences today, I thought that it was only fitting that earlier in April we selected the name for our unborn daughter - Haven. One day, we will share with our little girl about how God reminded us - while she was in the womb - that our safety, security and refuge is really found in Him.