Читать книгу There Is A Time - A. Ray Lee - Страница 8

“I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." (II Samuel 12:23)

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I cringed in fear against the back of the seat as the ambulance raced through the maze of early morning rush hour traffic, ignoring all traffic lights and signs. The interstate system had not yet been completed. Birmingham police had met us at Gardendale to run interference, but our radio and emergency lights had shorted out a few miles back meaning we could no longer communicate with our escorts. With flashing lights and screaming sirens they plunged into intersections to stop cross traffic. They rocketed to the next one while we were still a block away. During the entire ride from Decatur my prayers had taken on a new urgency and now they were fervent pleas.

In the back of the ambulance a young doctor operated a manual breathing apparatus to keep hope alive in the hearts of two parents. He and I had become acquainted some months before during one of my hospital visits. He had just begun his practice and I was young in the ministry. We had shared opinions on medical care and theology. This morning he had insisted that I ride in the ambulance.

We were on the last leg of a journey that had begun a few days before. A childhood illness that is not considered dangerous had suddenly turned deadly. Will was the only child of a young couple who were steadfast members of my congregation. Ski and Betty had been the second family to join our new fellowship after I came as pastor. They had grown in faith and became dependable leaders. Effie and I had three small children of our own and I was feeling deeply their pain. Sharing their anxiety, I had made numerous visits to the hospital to have prayer and encourage them.

The last two days had tested their faith to its limit. I must admit I had asked some difficult questions myself as they struggled with “why is this happening to us?" The previous night, when their son had failed to make any response to stimuli for the past twenty-four hours, they had requested we go to the church and pray at the altar.

After the midnight devotion, we returned to the hospital where we were told local medical personnel had done all they could do. Slim as it might be, the only hope offered was to transfer Will to the University Hospital in Birmingham.

The arrangements were hastily made. We left Decatur an hour before dawn. When the ambulance rushed into the emergency entrance of UAB hospital we were met by a medical team and Will was rushed into the Intensive Care Unit. In a few minutes, the parents who had been riding in another vehicle arrived and we continued a vigil begun hours before. Through long hours that followed numerous tests, the family waited for some ray of hope. But none came.

Three days later I stood with Ski and Betty by the small casket containing the still body of their son. Although physically and emotionally tired, there was a quiet serenity in their hearts that belied the storm against faith that had so recently assailed them.

As we talked I was reminded of the experience of David as he struggled with the imminent death of his infant son. Dressed in sack cloth he had fasted with downcast eyes in sorrow praying for the life of the infant. But when the son died David put on his regal clothing and lifted his eyes to see beyond the moment into the future. With hope and assurance in his heart, he looked forward to a blessed reunion and his grief was assuaged.

After I had led in a brief prayer for their consolation, Ski turned to me and said, “What we see is just an empty shell left behind. Will is in heaven. We will be united with him there." Three months later they became parents of another son whose presence has blessed them through the years. It will not be long until the two sons will meet for the first time when a family of faith is reunited.