Whoa!

A lot has transpired this past week that has made me inwardly or outwardly say, "Whoa!" To start with, the number of individuals who came to celebrate with us last Sunday night for the one year anniversary of Micah's liver transplant made me say a big "Whoa!" Thank you to each of you who attended and celebrated the greatness of God with us. As best we can count, there were approximately 300 in attendance.

Most who were present last Sunday night are aware that Micah had not been feeling all that well. He's actually been treated for pneumonia and an infection over the past three weeks. On Sunday night, Micah was about three days into his medication for the infection. However, when we arrived home Sunday night, we received a phone call stating that the infection he had was resistant to the antibiotic he was taking. Then came the punch. We were then informed that he needed to come to the emergency room for the night to receive a new medicine until they could get the home infusion group to deliver the new medicine to our house. Can you say "Whoa!"?

So Micah and I loaded up to head to Duke. We arrived around 11:30 PM on Sunday night. You know how emergency rooms are and the Duke Emergency Department is no different. We love Duke. Don't get me wrong. But if I never have to go to the Emergency Department again, you won't see any tears.

As Micah and I traveled to the emergency room, though, I was on the phone with Priceline.com, US Airways, Delta, and then back to US Airways. See, Sarah and I were scheduled to attend a StudentLIFE Refuge Conference in Birmingham, AL Monday and Tuesday. We were scheduled, tickets in hand, to fly out Monday morning at 9:50 AM. Knowing that was probably not going to happen at that time, we were trying to change our flight time. In short, to change our departing flight, it was going to cost a minimum of $512.00 with the change penalty and difference of the new ticket. Another "Whoa."

At that point, I was content to lose what we had already paid instead of paying 1 1/2 times what what we had already paid on top of what we had already paid. So I figured that was dead.

The night came and went. The doctors came by and decided to discharge us. We left the hospital around 10:00 AM. On the way home, I met Sarah, my dad and Sarah's mom. My dad drove Sarah and I to the airport while Sarah's mom took Micah to our house. We went to see if the actual Delta ticket counter might prove to be better help to us. We arrived there, explained the situation and I even provided a "doctor's excuse." I joked with the ticket counter worker that I felt like I was at the Principal's Office. To condense the story, he told us that we could change to a later departure flight for $50.00 per ticket if the seats were available. I jumped at that if they were available. After all, $100.00 is much better than $500.00+. Then he found us a flight. But when he handed us the new boarding passes and itinerary, he said, "We're not going to charge you." "Whoa!" Thank you God.

I'd have to admit at this point that I had serious questions as to whether we were even supposed to go to this Refuge Conference. Isn't it amazing how when things are difficult we immediately jump in our thinking to question whether we should or should not do whatever it is? How come we rarely do that when things are so easy? Hmmm... Maybe Jonah should have stopped when he found things so easy to go away from the presence of the Lord. And good thing Joshua didn't change course when things were difficult when the people of God came up against Jericho, the mighty fortified city.

We did arrive in Birmingham, got our rental car and made our way to the motel. We got to the motel with just enough time to turn around, make it to the first session and were only 10 minutes late. My head is spinning at this point. It doesn't even seem possible I have left North Carolina. Another moment where I thought to myself....I'll spare saying this time!

15 minutes. It didn't take more than 15 minutes at the Refuge Conference for me to know, without a doubt, I was supposed to be there. God had purposed for me to be there. I could be long and drawn out explaining that point. But let me see if I can make it pithy, if you really have any interest to know.

In route to Birmingham, I picked up a book in the airport that I have hear several individuals speak about having ready. The Shack. I won't give it away. But one key theme in the book is the main character's struggle with his past and how he's missed accurately understanding who God is and how much God loves him. I had begun reading this on our journey to Refuge.

Then we arrived at the conference. During the opening time of worship through music, the emphasis upon God's love for us and His demonstration of His love for us continued. As if God thought my head were too thick to get the message, when God's word was opened and taught...you guessed it! The grace of God that led Him to make Christ our sin that we might be the righteousness of God was the thrust. I needed the reminded of God's love and forgiveness of sin. I needed to know that even though there is sin in my past (sin he has forgiven), He loves me. Even though there is great hurt in my life from the past, He can work through it, even though he did not purpose it. With some hurts, I have struggled for years...and I mean years. Some sin goes back over the same number of years. And I know it is forgiven. And I know, mentally, God loves me. But practically, we can live so contrary. And losing sight of God's love creates a bitterness and sharpness in every area of our life and with others around us.

So there we were in Birmingham, AL and I knew it was where God had purposed for us to be in spite of all that it had taken to get there. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!"

It's been quite a week. But that's not where it ends.

Since May Micah has had difficulty with a lung condition. It is like he has congestion all the time. Nothing has cleared it up. There are no answers at this moment. Lately it has caused more difficulty for him. So this Monday, doctors are going to perform a procedure to extract some fluid from his lungs to test. Hopefully this will produce some answers and clarity in how to correct or treat what is occurring. It is supposed to be just a day procedure. We hope that turns out to be accurate.

With all that said...and I know it is a long blog...please continue to pray for Micah especially this Monday. Pray this week is calmer than last week. Pray for continual strength and endurance. We appreciate you.