The Helpers

These past few weeks have been a little more trying than most recently. And the thing is, not much of what has happened has happened directly to me or to my wife. Here's a summary.

Two weeks ago mynephew, the Rice County Sheriff, was shot in the leg trying to apprehend a scofflaw. His deputy was injured more severely. They are both on the road to recovery. A week ago four of my grand kids along with their dad were involved in a head-on collision. The Prius did its job in protecting them, and they came away with scratches and aches. The other driver was arrested at the scene for DUI at the 7:30 AM crash scene. My niece, who has been battling cancer for the past two years, was placed on hospice care and is expected to succumb to the illness in the next few days to weeks. She's in her mid-50's

Those are the big ones. Then there are the little things. The continual battle with allergies and vertigo. The press of the work of an Elder in the church. Church family members having surgeries, discovering cancer, and undergoing tests and further treatment. Other church family members having domestic issues, child issues, or blood family issues. It's a never-ending cycle, it seems.

I sometimes feel a little like the Apostle Paul (although in no way do I claim to be the person he was in life), when he said that he had a continual burden for the churches in II Corinthians 11. Paul had his own issues, but seemed to concentrate his prayers and concern not for himself, but for those who did not know Jesus Christ, and also for the churches he helped establish.

Life is sometimes difficult. One's own physical limitations, a sapping of emotional strength, the inability to be everywhere one is needed, and obligations one has for one's own family and life make life and living rough in spots. Were it not for the spiritual strength that comes from a relationship with the God of Heaven, it may well be unbearable at times.

I don't mean to take anything away from those who are suffering from disease, injury, or mental illness. I don't mean to be cavalier about domestic troubles, issues with family, or mental health issues. Those are very real, very tangible evidences of the fallen state of the creation. And people suffer, greatly, because of it.

Then there are those who are on the periphery of some of these events. I often find myself there in my work and life. We pray. We agonize. We comfort. We aid and help. We do what we can, even though it almost never seems to be enough, or even helpful at times. There is a real burden on the helpers as well. It wears. It is stressful. It is indeed a burden.

Thank God for those who will stand with those who are suffering from cancer, liver disease, mental illness, marital issues, job loss, and a host of other ailments in this modern culture and life. To suffer alone has to be one of the worst things anyone could do. If you are a helper, be compassionate. Be there. Be available. Be a prayer warrior.

And if you are one who is suffering, know that others are going on the journey with you. And if you know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, know that He is beside you as well.

This has been a difficult blog to write. I didn't want to minimize the suffering that people go through in life; yet I also wanted all to know that there are others who walk on the journey of suffering with them, and suffer in their own way. Praise God that there will come an end to the suffering, the pain, and the loss.