Brian’s story is a love story. It includes a family who loves him dearly and a family who he loved. But most importantly it includes a Father who loved him unconditionally when I couldn’t. Our Father was relentless in his pursuit of Brian. He constantly put people in Brian’s path who loved the Lord. They challenged him to evaluate his walk and his relationship with God. In the end Brian turned to the Lord and the Lord wrapped him in his arms and brought Brian home. “Brian is safe now.”
3:14 AM Christmas morning 2014 in Germany, 7:14 PM Christmas eve at 1222 Highcrest Lane. The Lord Jesus Christ woke me from a deep sleep, He told me “I have Brian, he is safe.” The voice, His voice, was so reassuring, so calm and so certain. I fell back to sleep confident in the fact that the Lord had our Brian. When I think of this I am amazed. If I thought my Brian was dead how could I have just rolled over and gone back to sleep? I can only contribute this to the overwhelming hope I have that one day I will be reunited with Brian in heaven.
It is the love that the Lord demonstrated through Brian and hope that makes his death even somewhat bearable. My hope has been criticized and has been referred to as a crutch but, I just can’t imagine how empty my life would be without it. If there is no hope then what’s the purpose of life, what’s the alternative? Is it just to live for today and then die for what, for nothing? No thank you! There is no downside to my holding onto hope as tightly as I can. It allows me to share the good news with others, to live a more loving life. I don’t have to descend into the abyss of bitterness and apathy. Life doesn’t have to be a drudgery characterized by daily futility and ultimately ending in nothing. So, if my hope is a crutch I will take two because the alternative is unacceptable.
The Lord loved Brain so much that He never abandoned Brian despite Brian’s efforts. He understood that Brian had been caught up in a life he didn’t want but one who couldn’t run away from. The Lord understood Brian’s core and decided that the best plan for Brian was to bring him home. That kind of love I can only dream of demonstrating but, it is one I strive to attain. That can’t be bad. The Lord loved Brian, He loves me, He loves us all. He pursued Brian, He pursues me and He is pursuing you. It’s the most beautiful love story ever told. I pray He never stops pursuing me and revel in the hope knowing that.
Beautiful Blue Sky 