I Lived This History

I was excited to learn that a movie was coming from my college years. Movies based on true stories are always interesting, but here was a movie I knew something about.  

Maybe you have recently seen or heard interviews with Greg Laurie or Kelsey Grammer. This movie, Jesus Revolution, shares from the late 1960s and early 70s.

Since I attended a college in Costa Mesa, CA, I was aware of Pastor Smith’s small church. Word spread that it was filling up with barefoot hippies, happily sitting on the floor and worshiping Jesus.

They outgrew that church and moved into a large tent. My brother, who followed me in college, attended some services there. It continued to fill with hippies hungry for God, and those who had found Him were sincere in their faith.

Maranatha! Music was birthed by Chuck Smith to share music from the hippie groups who were singing at Calvary Chapel. Wikipedia mentions a few of them like Love Song, Children of the Day, Mustard Seed Faith, Chuck Girard, and Karen Lafferty.

During the Jesus Movement, my husband and I were on the staff of a church in the San Diego area. Our pastor also welcomed these hippie young people. He wisely advised the congregation to accept them however they came and if they needed any correction, he would be the one to do it.

Many brought their parents and grandparents. Over our fifteen years of ministry in that church we saw the growth and faithfulness of these believers young and old.

The current Asbury Revival in Kentucky brings back memories of the Jesus Revolution. Once again young people are being drawn to God. It’s awesome to see them seriously engaged in prayer, or lifting their hands to worship as they sing.

A refrain from a song by Hillsong keeps running through my mind: You are awesome in this place, Mighty God. You are awesome in this place, Abba Father. You are worthy of all praise, to You our hands we raise. You are awesome in this place, Mighty God.

  

Unexpected Blessing #4

I have a Goddaughter who lives out of state. She’s a project person, so her visits are always productive.

She said, “I’m coming over. We’ll clean out your attic storage area.” The problem was this attic did not have pull-down steps. I knew I was not a ladder person, but until it was over, I didn’t know she wasn’t either.

On the same weekend, another out-of-state friend said she would be in town and would like to visit. I asked her to come in the morning since my Goddaughter was arriving that afternoon.

My friend arrived with her daughter, whom I had not seen since she was quite young. I also enjoyed meeting the daughter's mother-in-law.   

While catching up on news, I shared about my breast cancer surgery, then I moved on to the purpose of my Goddaughter’s visit. “I’m not sure how much I can help,” I said, “My oncologist told me not to lift more than six pounds with my left arm.”  

My friend’s daughter spoke right up. “I could help.”

What a lovely surprise. “Really? That would be so great! I’ll be in touch after my Goddaughter arrives.”

But there was another unexpected blessing. When she drove up the next morning, her college-age son and his girlfriend got out of the car. She introduced them and said, “They’re willing to help, too.” 

We developed a plan. Her son crawled up into the attic, she stood on the ladder and his girlfriend and my Goddaughter received the boxes and restacked them while I supervised.

My 10x12 attic space was cleared out in about two hours.

I had originally planned to sort through boxes later. But my Goddaughter, whom I laughingly call the Energizer Bunny, looked at the stacks of boxes and said, “We could sort these now.”

I said, “Fine. Let’s do it!” What a relief . . . another time-consuming job done in a few hours.

I am still grateful for this unexpected blessing: Four helpful caring people who acted on the advice in Philippians 4:2: Don’t just look out for your own needs, but also consider the needs of others.

  

Unexpected Blessing #3

Unexpected blessing number three took a while to reveal itself.  In one of my favorite movies, the guy and gal pass each other many times, yet never notice one another.

I’ve always thought that’s just a movie, but maybe not. I’m thinking of six ordinary friendly connections with my husband before true love became obvious.

 

Sadie Hawkins Day: This college event was a girl-ask-boy, so two friends and I decided to ask dates to Knott’s Berry Farm. They dared me to ask a guy I’ll call “Ricardo.” While deciding how to fit six people into my four-door Corvair, Ricardo said, “I’ll drive.” Feeling no need to impress, I said, “No, I’ll drive. It’s my car.”

 

A Wedding: Ricardo had known my roommate for years, so he asked if she knew of a pianist who could help with a small wedding. She asked and I agreed, so we drove to a small church nearby. I played for the wedding, then we left. There was no special connection with Ricardo.

 

A Box Social: This was a youth group fundraiser. The guy I was interested in asked how he could bid on my box, so I gave him a hint. My “second mom” in college told Ricardo my secret and dared him to come and outbid my person of interest. I was extremely unhappy when he won and we had to eat together.

 

Choir Connection: Later, Ricardo was called to our small church as choir director where I played the organ. Some of our songs were Black Gospel. When he asked to work with me on some of the rhythms, I was still clueless. To me, it was just a music session.

 

Used Cars: When Ricardo learned of my dream to own a Mustang, we started to connect on long drives to look at used car lots. They weren’t fancy dates, just fun rides and cheap eats at McDonald’s or Jack-in-the-Box.

 

Senior Year Banquet: At this event, it became obvious we had eyes for each other, though we were there with different dates. After graduation, we stayed in the area and became more serious about our relationship.

We got engaged in August and married in early November. God certainly answered my prayers for a Christian husband. The best Unexpected Blessing of my life was a guy I lovingly called “Ricardo.”

Unexpected Blessing #2

I was completely surprised by a breast cancer diagnosis in 2007. No one in my family had ever had cancer as a health issue. 

Before this, my husband and I had purchased a co-op in Phoenix. We were engaged in a full-time ministry and it seemed a nice option for brief getaways, plus a possibility for future retirement.

We were clueless as to any other reason for our purchase.

Unexpected challenges arrived after a lump was found during my routine breast exam. The doctor referred me for a biopsy so I followed through, made the appointment, and shared my insurance information.

On the day of the appointment, I checked in and filled out about five pages of new-patient paperwork. When I walked up to hand it in, the medical assistant took one look and said, “We don’t take your insurance.”

I was shocked! “But you did when I made the appointment.”

 “Well, we don’t, now.” She had no further explanation.

I called my insurance agent, who was also surprised, but said she would check it out. She called later to say the company had gone out of business and notified no one, but she would try to locate another provider.

Unfortunately, no local provider was available. That meant all of my care would now be in Phoenix, a two-hour drive one way.

I signed on with the new company and made the necessary appointments ASAP. I was diagnosed with Stage Three Breast Cancer which led to a full nine months of treatments --- chemo, surgery, and radiation.

I’m still amazed at how God was ahead of us on needed housing. The co-op was a small 2 BD/1BA and I turned the second bedroom into a comfortable office.

I never dreamed cancer treatments meant I’d be alone in a big city for almost ten months. The nice thing is that I felt safe in our co-op community.

Coincidence? I think NOT!

Matthew 6:8 (NKJV) says, “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” That co-op was an unexpected blessing for which I will always be grateful.

(Unexpected Blessings: A Series of 4)

 

Unexpected Blessing #1

                                          UNEXPECTED BLESSING #1

I was born with a neck problem. When first diagnosed it was labeled “wry neck.” Years later it was called “torque neck.”

The presenting problem was a neck muscle on my right side. As I grew, it remained short. This meant my head always tilted to the right and I couldn’t help it. In my teenage years, I started to become very self-conscious.

I’ve always wondered how our family doctors could check for scoliosis, and never notice my crooked neck. But I had an unexpected blessing in my third year of college.

I had an extremely sore throat and decided to go to the university’s free clinic.

The man behind the desk stood up as I walked in. “I can help you with that,” he said.

 "Thanks. I’m here with a very sore throat.”

 “OK, but I’m looking at your neck. I’ve never operated on anyone as old as you, but I still think it would work.” He was an orthopedic surgeon, one of the many doctors who volunteered at the clinic.

I left with a prescription for strep throat and information regarding his office if I desired an evaluation of my neck.

My problem was not solved with one surgery, but two.

First, the short muscle was detached from my collarbone on the right side. I still have a small scar there. Next, the doctor striated the muscle behind my right ear. I’ve always associated that procedure with the word “shredded." Whatever . . . it worked.

During the next school year, I faithfully applied wet hot packs to the right side of my neck. Then I gradually and persistently pulled to the left. The good news is, my neck straightened up.

God opened a door for me that I had no idea existed. Author Squire Rushnell would call it a “God Wink.” To me, however, it was an unexpected blessing and I still find it easy to say, “Thank you, God.”

 Note: This will be a four-week series.