Ruth's Poem

We were in Colorado this week to be together with a group of friends that we have met with on a regular basis for the last 21 years.  Initially when we started this, it was for a couple of specific reasons. Accountability - we had seen too many ministers become casualties and didn't want to walk this journey alone.

Growth - we wanted to learn.  Dick and Ruth Foth agreed to meet with us once a year.  Our commitment was 5 years....which has continued for 21 years!

This year's time will be unforgetable.  Ruth is a quiet, strong, deep, Godly woman.  Dick is the teacher, the story teller,  the traveller.   

We spend this time together sharing, talking, praying - which we were doing on Tuesday morning.  Ruth "leaned in" to look me in the eye and share the following....

"Dear Child, God does not say today, 'Be strong.'

He knows your strength is spent; He knows how long 

The road has been, how weary you have grown.

For He who walked the earthly roads alone,

Each bogging lowland, and each rugged hill.

Can understand, and so He says, "Be still,

And know that I Am God. The hour is late

And you must rest awhile, and you must wait

Until life's empty reservoirs fill up

As slow rain fills an empty upturned cup.

Hold up your cup, dear child, for God to fill.

He only asks today that you be still."

~Grace Noll Crowell

She shared this poem with strong eye contact with me that reached into my heart.  Very clear.  Very from her heart.  Very much from heaven.  That fact that she rarely voluntarily shares out loud was unique in itself, but....the Presence of God was so incredibly strong.  Hard to adequately express this.  After she finished the last word, she leaned back and went into cardiac arrest.  

Surreal.

Amazingly fast response from the Estes Park emergency crew.  Amazing medical teams.  AMAZING GOD.  Today the question of brain damage from when she coded for a few moments is answered.  This morning she has woken up and is responding to complex commands.  She still has a road of recuping ahead of her.  But......wow......

For the last few days - during the waiting - "He only asks today that you be still" - has been repeated many times.  

And again today I will hear and respond to His desire for me/us to be still.....