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At Last
Dear praying friends
Almost 50 years ago Debbie began to see me in a new light. She had many boy-friends before me, so I could never claim to be the first. But I could be the last. Sometimes last is most important. It goes against all that we believe we have experienced. What could be more important, or better, than being first? I was the last man in line for the best woman. She married me.
For the past couple of weeks I have been in Manilla where we offered the last research course to our present cohort of Peace Studies students. At the end of the course, each of them had gained a sense of what their dissertation research was going to be and how it would proceed. It was a turning point. The last was the beginning of the final stage.
While there, our son Jesse was visited by a long-time friend and colleague from Kenya. Makuku was the pastor/mentor for Jesse’s transformative engagement in the slums of Nairobi. It was his last deep connection with his years in Africa. And the last came to meet him at a point of need.
I just returned from Manila where I was also deep into planning for my last year as director of the Peace Studies program. Someone asked what I was going to do after…visit grand children? Why yes of course! But I dream of seeing another program or two started in Peace Studies. Perhaps in Lebanon, or in NE India where we have people who are on their last lap of their PhD program. The last of one may give way to the first of another.
On the way home I received a note from MTW that confirmed we had received our last full salary check from a years-weakened support account. And then the next day came a notice of three special gifts from a donors—and it reminded me that the last was but a confirmation of what I knew all along. What I know is that God has not forgotten our needs, and now that while the “normal supply” has ended, He will begin His “special supply”. We may not know when or how that supply comes.
My return was premature because Debbie’s twin brother was failing. He had been in the hospital for a short time with pneumonia, and was released, but didn’t recover. Family gathered around and when the last one arrived he breathed his last breath. The last family member, it seemed gave him permission to take the last earthly step. That was the first step into an eternity without the body-brokenness of his Cerebral Palsy, and into a God-presence with a fully renewed mind.
Jesus reminded us that the first will be last and the last, first. We live in an upside-down kingdom. Have you considered what is last for you today?
We need not fear the last. It may be the start of a first.
At last....
...a long awaited networking tool to help build an international peace network has been launched. Check it out...
Sychar Well Group
Upcoming events
In October Karl will have one more participant move through comprehensive exam and dissertation proposal phase and others finishing their last papers or courses. Pray for these significant ending-transitions
On October 27 we will have the memorial for Debbie's twin brother Tim. Pray for God's comfort in the loss and give thanks for His ultimate healing of the brokenness of creation.
In November Karl and Debbie will be speaking at a missions conference in one of their long-time "home" congregations in Brunswick Georgia. Pray for the effectiveness of God to motivate and reach His people.