A Matter of Importance

[OneAccord]

A Matter of Importance

Somehow, over the past few weeks of my absence on this forum (which was more than likely , unoticed, and, understandably so), certain things have lost their importance in my thinking. Have I changed my views? Have I given up my Apostolic Heritage?

No, not at all, but, well, recent events have caused some of the issues that are constantly hashed and rehashed here to lose their importance and have been replaced with others. Certain words have been replaced with new ones. Words like cancer, biopsy, seizure and tumor have always been distant words to me… used in passing… with little if any significance. But today, for about two months now, those words have taken over my mind and vocabulary. My wife has terminal cancer. She is dying. Everyday… every minute, death draws nearer. In fact, Sunday night of this week. Death was there. She went to sleep. And wouldn’t, couldn’t, wake up. No matter how much I shook her and called her name, she never moved. Death had a hold. But prayer. A simple, desperate prayer, stayed deaths hand for a while longer. She woke up. Her first words: “I want to go home”. I don’t know what she meant.

To her home in heaven, with the Lord she loves with all her heart? Or to our home on Sand Mountain in Alabama? I don’t know which of the two she was referring to. But, if it was her request to come to her earthly home, she got her wish. She is home now. She has been sent home to die. However, if it was her request to go to her heavenly home, then that request is very soon to be answered. And that one simple answer to my desperate plea for just a few minutes to tell her how much I love her has shown me just how much God is in control of this situation. And the knowledge of His control makes everything alright.

So, if I am absent , that is why. If I don’t find the significance of debating water baptism and standards (matters which should have been settled long ago) seem unimportant and trivial to me, that is why. Those issues are settled for me, and have been long ago since they were first written. I have never seen the need to rehash them and discuss them and to debate them and to argue about them. And I certainly don’t see the need of it now. What I do see is the need for us… ALL OF US… to see how much we need one anothers fellowship and support. And prayers. And compassion. And understanding. I ask you to pray for us that God’s will be done. Thank you.