As I was running yesterday morning I picked up my pace - Toya had asked me to speak to her mission team and I needed to rush to get there by 8:45. It was my usual route around the neighborhood - the first mile is fairly flat, but then, after passing Robert Wetherford's house it goes downhill for nearly half a mile.
As I came huffing and puffing back up the hill, there was Robert's wife out in front of of her house. She seemed busy and I ran by her. I was focused on getting home. Then God said, "Go back and pray for her." Earlier in my life, I might not have recognized the voice of God. And I probably wouldn't have obeyed. But today I turned around and went up to her.
I knew that Robert was in the hospital and wasn't doing well - his granddaughter had showed up on my
blog about him and told me that. [please read the blog if you get the chance]
"How's Robert doing?" I asked.
"He's not doing well; he didn't recognize me yesterday."
I commiserated with her, "I'm so sorry. It's got to be so hard. Can I pray for you?"
"Sure."
So, there on her front porch, we prayed. First I waited to see what God might say. I sensed that he knew how hard this was for her, how precious Robert was to her. They had been married 60 years. I sensed the Spirit moving and I think she did too. It wasn't long, just two minutes of prayer, but I could tell God touched her heart. And then I was off to finish my run and rendezvous with the team.
Still sweating from the run, I met them in a church parking lot near my house. I said I felt God asking three of them to go with me on a special assignment. Floyd, Patti and Liz volunteered.
After showering, I met them at the hospital in Robert's room. Three family members were there. The air in the room was heavy. Robert was unconscious and struggling in the bed.
Patti had lost her father several months earlier in the same hospital. She knew exactly what one of the family members was feeling and God used her to minister. Before we left, Liz prayed a beautiful prayer. Then I prayed, releasing Robert to go home to Jesus.
Yesterday evening Jake and I met up with the group and prayed for them. We came knowing that God wanted to touch the group, and he did. The tears flowed. Freedom came - it was awesome. All triggered by a simple act of obedience while I was running.
As Jake and I got in the car, I checked my text messages. There was one from Robert's granddaughter. "He just passed away," it said.
We're not human beings having a temporary spiritual experience. We're spiritual beings having a temporary human experience. Robert ran the race well and completed his.
