FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1983…A VERY SIGNIFICANT DAY...

And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. He said to the Israelites, "In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' –Joshua 4.20-22

22 years ago today, I found myself sprawled–out in utter agony on the ground on the field at Carter Park in Chelsea, MA.

Here’s the scene: I am playing shortstop for the Chelsea Crilollos softball team. First inning, runners on 1st and 3rd, no outs. A ground ball up the middle which I go to my left to field it. It falls in front of me. I see out the corner of my eye the runner on 3rd going home, so I turn, flat-footed, to nail him at the plate…when all of a sudden, Osvaldo Garcia, the 6’6”, 280 lb. Runner from 1st base barrels into me at second. SNAP! Sheer agony. A brutal collision of Goliath-size proportion! All I know is that I look down to see what is putting me in this agony and I behold my left leg going from my hip to my knee, then taking a sharp left so that my leg better resembles the letter “L”. Dislocated knee, carted off by the ambulance 45 minutes later to spend 2 weeks in the hospital for knee reconstruction surgery…

Here’s God’s mercy…a pastor comes to visit me in the hospital and brings me a Bible. He tells me to read Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians. Just a short 11 months previous my whole life was turned upside-down (really rightside-up!) by God working to show me who He is, who I am, and what Jesus Christ has done for me. (see my post: “O Happy Day”, posted 3/1/05)
And here is God’s continuing faithfulness to see that a Bible is put front and center in my life, albeit, through some very strange…and painful circumstances. I recall reading those 3 New Testament books hundreds of times while in the hospital…and haven’t stopped yet, 22 years later!

This is God’s Word here. God’s…Word. The book about Him and His dealings with us little creatures…the work of His hand. Martin Luther was right in saying:
"The word of God is the most needful, most necessary and most important thing in all of Christendom. Let the man who would hear God speak, read Holy Scripture."

This post is a memorial of the God who is. I am eternally grateful to God for that day in May 1983. For me, a most fortunate Friday the 13th!
May His Name be praised…for He is God and He is Good!
Peace…