The ballad had already started by the time I met Gavin and Lynsay. One night I received an e-mail forward about a biker down, to which I always respond immediately. It only mentioned his name and Palomar Hospital. So the next morning I went down, and found out he was in ICU on the third floor, and they let me in. Sound familiar, Bill? I don't like or use titles, but many know me there as a chaplain. Knocking on the door, I walked in and found two young women reading their Bibles. In bed, with tubes and on a ventilator, was Gavin. One of the women was his sister, Cassandra, the other Lynsay, his wife. They explained about the accident, it was about two weeks before he was found in a ditch with his Triumph Speed Triple on top of him-unconscious. No one was sure what had happened, but the CHP felt he may have been run off the road. He was air lifted to Palomar, and Lynsay was told he had a 5% chance of living. And if he did, he would be a vegetable. They are a young couple, about 24 with two small kids.
During the conversation they told me they were from Ramona and went to Calvary Chapel there, and knew Pastor Rob and Mari-way cool people. After a short visit, and explaining who I was and what I did, we prayed. As Gavin still rested, but comatose.
I continued to visit, for weeks, and finally he awoke, and was transferred to the seventh floor, CCU. And one afternoon I got a call from Pastor Rob, who was glad I was ministering to Gavin. "Did Lynsay tell you the good news?" She had given her life to Jesus the day before! And was more confident than ever that Jesus would heal her husband. And as I continued to visit, Gavin continued to amaze the doctors. Coming out of the coma, he only had a feeding tube in him. And Lynsay had so impressed the nurses by her love and compassion for Gavin, they told her she should become one. And so when they told her about another brain injury patient that just came in, 17 year old Conrad, they asked her to visit the family. As she told Theresa and I, she was excited but scared, until Theresa offered me to go with her. Fifteen seconds later, we are on our way, with Theresa watching Gavin whom she had just met ten minutes ago.
As Lynsay and I walked into the waiting room, it was filled with the Murphy family-Conrad's. She sat down and started sharing who she was, what had happened to her husband, and how Jesus was healing him and changing her life. I watched in wonder, this two day old Christian ministering to others, while still in need of ministering herself. We visited Conrad in his room in ICU, and then prayed with all of them.
Fast forward to last Saturday-Gavin went home, to Ramona. Less than four months after his accident. His back is still broken, and he still has a long way to go with physical therapy, but he is talking, eating, communicating, would go on visits and pray with me for other patients, and when I asked how he was the day before he left, he told me how Jesus had changed his life, and he was saved! In less than four months, what wasn't supposed to happen did. From 5%, to vegetable, to saved and going home-Jesus Christ had changed his life.
Conrad was given a likewise bleak future. But we prayed, and God heard and answered. As of last Wednesday, he is sitting up, and talking, eating, and doing PT. On the ninth floor, like Gavin was, for rehab. When I asked him if I could pray, we grabbed hands, and the first words from his mouth were praise to Jesus for what he is doing in his life! Keep praying, for this young man was also drafted by the Seattle Mariners-we hope to see him play baseball again someday.
But the healings weren't over. Just a few weeks ago, while going to see Conrad, I talked with his mom Wendy and one of his sisters while they were in the hall. His sister kept insisting "tell him Mom what you did with the couple. Tell him how you talked to them like that girl talked to us!" So Wendy explained how when standing in the hall, she heard a couple talking of a decision they had to make to pull the plug on their brain damaged son from drugs. Wendy shared about Gavin, Lynsay, and her son, Conrad. They admitted to her they had no hope, but now did due to her visit.
And two days later, their son was sitting up in bed and eating! They had come that close to pulling the plug! Now he lives!
Today you may be wondering where does Jesus want me to go and do. And how you might spread the gospel. You might hear the story of his advice of going from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and into the outer reaches spreading the gospel. This time it only went from the third, to the seventh, to the ninth floor, and then Ramona! No preaching, just the love of Jesus shown to a dying world. And watching as He changes lives and saves souls! A simple example of preaching the gospel, and when needed using words. A lesson for all of us who are called as His ambassadors. A great commission.
Seek God, and watch as He will guide you through to where He wants you to be. Showing love to those hurt, and sharing it with those who don't know Him. Watch as He will change their lives, and yours also! All wrapped up in 25 words, the gospel. John 3:16.
The ballad of Gavin and Lynsay isn't over yet. Or is Conrad's, or the other family's. God's work is never done. And like Jesus said, if all the things He did were written, no library could hold them. I am so thankful for these three volumes in my personal library. May they encourage you to start your own, or add to it.
Just like Gavin told me when I asked what could I do for him? "Just be you, " he said. Which is what God wants us to be. Just you. His child. A sinner saved by God's mercy and grace. And a family that has changed my heart, just by being themselves in Jesus. A story that must be repeated to all who will listen. Jesus Christ changed all the words and the tune to their ballad. May he write as beautiful a song for you.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com