destination: everywhere!

 Much of what I do remember is based on what Theresa and my son Christopher have told me.  What I do remember was the nurse telling me to keep my feet down because the helicopter was small, and not to interfere with the pilot’s feet.  My veins had collapsed and only the flight nurse could find a vein.  And for the next 250 miles I would be life flighted from Durango to Albuquerque.  Then landing and being greeted to what I thought was a SWAT team of medical personnel.  Then eight days later, waking up and looking at the ceiling, knowing something had happened, but not sure what.  The room was filled with all kinds of monitoring equipment, I had numerous IV’s in me, and my chest felt funny.  Reaching down, I could feel staples and counted 13, turned out there was 27 of them, and I had just endured and managed to live miraculously after open heart surgery.  Among other things, I now have a plastic aorta, mine exploded, no one lives through that, and my heart was out of my body for 5 1/2 hours.  After the surgery until just before I woke up, I had been on life support, as Peter my cardiologist explained, “we can keep you functioning, but cannot give you life.”  A concept that I still hold dear, and I decided at that point, I was not a victim, but a victor, I had seen Jesus, he held my heart in his hands, and all I believed became real, and with access to things I didn’t know about God.  We all think we know God pretty well, for me it took a coma, and a new aorta and another chance to live to see the truth.  But I was alive, more than functioning, and I took the attitude I could do all things in Christ who gives me strength, and life.  Abundantly.  I would soon be released, the nurses telling me they had never seen someone so sick that weren’t dead, and all I wanted was fresh air, and another chance to see the world, my new destination, everywhere.  To go for a ride....oh and I was hungry having not eaten for 12 days, do I hear road trip?

I have learned over the years of planning trips and then adjusting them due to weather, a road not seen and taken, detours, and food excursions.  Flexibility in life as well as traveling has its benefits, we are definitely not cruise ship or tour group participants.  When we travel we want to see the locals, eat at the counter at the diner, pronounce names correctly, and see things not in any brochure.  Saying we have been there is not enough, we cherish the memories of people, places, food, roads, and just being with each other.  So many times we limit ourselves, thinking we cannot afford it, don’t have the time, the finances, or a fear takes over.  Sadly many Christians live like this, which is revealed in their prayers.  Limiting God by asking for a specific, not asking him first what he wants for us.  Some have a prayer list, checking off their desires as they ask, which God hands back, marked “none of the above.”  For he has more and much more than we could ever hope or ask for.  So why settle for our desires when we can have all the desires of God, opening up a new life and and hope for it?

Scripture tells us the spirit intervenes in our prayers with groanings which are too deep for us to understand.  Add being in a coma and not being conscious to pray, yet the spirit is alive, was alive, and I was listening.  Maybe the most private of times ever spent with Jesus, for when I am asked to describe the things of heaven, what does he look like, how does he sound, all physical attributes, all I can say is “I want to go back.”  To me, that says it all....

And so although I have an eternal destination, I am unlimited in where I choose to go on earth.  My first ride seven weeks after surgery was a short 30 miles, after pushing the Bonneville around in the garage with my feet.  Every time I thought I was ready, God showed me it wasn’t my strength, it was his, and the timing wasn’t right.  But when it was.....I was.  On the wall when you come in our front door, friends come in the proper way, through the garage, I have a list of press bikes I rode the first year after surgery.  Something I never thought I would do again.  But Mickey took a chance and kept me riding, maybe the best therapy I could have had, he’ll deny it, but I know.  22 bikes that year, and the miles still accumulate.  So many roads and so little time, so I make my choices differently, better, with so many destinations left I have never heard of.  And roads to take me on to get there....

To some this is a sad story, and they would ask “why me?”  My answer is “why not me?”  We say we trust God, but do we?  Do the words of my mouth really give glory to God, or curse Jesus, backed up by actions and attitudes?  Consider the alternatives, I could be dead and in heaven with Jesus, or alive on earth with Jesus.  So it doesn’t matter, for wherever I am, he is.  We must love God in the trials as we do in the blessings, which sometimes cannot be differentiated.  Jesus never left me in my coma, on the helicopter, or when my heart was out.  If a plastic aorta is how I go into heaven, that’s alright too.  For I know in whom I trust and believe, and where I will spend eternity.  But until then, my earthly destinations remain unlimited, I can go anywhere and everywhere.  In Christ.  You are only given one life, why not spend it living, preparing for eternity? 

All things, not just good things, not just our desires, work together to those who love the Lord.  And are called according to his purpose, which is knowing Jesus.  You cannot have Easter without Good Friday, or be resurrected unless you die.  Your final destination is up to you....all I know is “I want to go back....”

Don’t you just love happy endings?

love with compassion,

Mike

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