Battle Fatigue
Woke up this morning and haven’t moved far from my chair. Just plain fatigued…
I spent the last three days in beautiful Arizona, the sun was gorgeous and the temperature was amazing. I was there with a close friend. He’s getting some treatments, so I decided to fly out with him.
I spent a lot of time waiting as he had tests, scans, appointments, and procedures. I spent a lot of time praying, really interceding, because I was in the atmosphere of my friend’s battle. I spent a lot of time with his wife. She’s a rock star. I mean she is steady and supportive with just enough “boot up the ass” mentality to keep him going.
He’s been in the fight of his life, actually for his life, for more than 15 months. A fight that was originally predicted to last about 3-6 months. But the people who make those kind of predictions don’t know my friend, his wife, our spiritual family, or our incredible Heavenly Father. So we all fight on together.
He and I have been friends for nearly 20 years. We’ve been through a lot together. We’ve seen our friendship and faith create some incredible miracles. And we’ve also tasted some hellish setbacks - cancer being one…
I read a quote the other day that got my attention - “Religion is populated by people who fear hell, but true Spirituality begins when you’ve been through hell”. And my friend has been through some hell. Not only this horrendous physical attack, but like all idea men, he’s been attacked for doing good and making changes. I’ll never understand why people are so resistant to change and so opposed to change agents?
Anyway, we spent three days together waiting, talking, catching up, laughing, waiting a little more, and shedding a tear or two.
I left him and his wife in the hospital parking lot yesterday. We sat in the car while I prayed and encouraged them to keep fighting the good fight. Then came the time to leave…
We hugged longer than either of us would have been comfortable with two decades ago. Many men may have been embarrassed, but neither of us cared. I kissed him for the third time in as many days, again, I don’t care. I whispered in his ear that “I was crazy about him”. Then, I kissed him for the fourth time and walked away.
I drove out of the parking lot quickly, found a private place and just burst. I noticed him in the mirror as I drove away wiping his eyes as well. We both relish the friendship and I for one am not ready for it to end just yet.
There he was in the parking lot with his bald head, his slender frame, and his precious wife. I knew that between her and God he was in good hands.
So I believe we’re going to keep fighting. This morning I looked for tickets to fly out again in four weeks.
Please keep praying for JT and Michelle…
