Healing Hope Newsletter
March 2010
Dear Friends,
Russ* says that his education fell entirely from the secular tree of knowledge. “Best I can remember, there wasn’t a twig of spiritual content. That was for the weak-minded, the infirm or deluded. The study of law seemed the straight path for me.
“I passed the bar exam in 1977 and became part of a large firm with an impressive client list.” He made partner and earned an impressive income. Now married and the father of four sons, he was becoming more and more unwilling to sacrifice closeness to his wife and child rearing joys for the illusory comfort of money and the foggy presumption of prestige.
When he finally left the firm in 1990 to join a small law school as Associate Dean, a younger partner said, “You’re crazy!” But Russ says, “It felt right and it was!”
At the age of five, Russ was baptized upon his profession of faith that Jesus was his Savior. When he was seven, he went forward at a Billy Graham rally. But it wasn’t until he was in his late thirties and read a book titled The Unity of the Bible by Daniel Fuller that Jesus’ words of deliverance became real. I’ve been set free from the control of my sinful nature!, he realized. By the amazing grace of God, I can learn to live a Christlike life! (Romans 6:18).
He began attending a Bible study for men. “The more I studied, the more I delighted in God and wanted to share Him with others.” For several years, however, he’d been bothered by muscle cramping and twitching. In 2002, he was diagnosed with an immune disorder similar to Multiple Sclerosis that attacks the peripheral nerves but is treatable with immunoglobulin infusions. “I spend about ninety days each year in an infusion room. By midday, a pounding headache kicks in.” But the treatment keeps nerve damage to a minimum.
During this time, he began to realize that he’d been using his career, position and authority to present himself as someone who had achieved and become successful. He had to admit, however, that he still ached for inward joy and satisfaction. “The war within was intolerable.”
As his energy waned and he spent more time with doctors, his significant responsibilities at the law school became more and more difficult to fulfill. In 2003, he began to work part time. Finally, in 2007, he retired but continued to work on important school projects.
“The hardest part of having a chronic condition is that I still don’t know the prognosis. Some folks get better. Others die rather quickly. Still others drift along for years in various states of disintegration or regeneration.” Finally, Russ chose to trust God more than his puffed up self to meet his deepest need for contentment and delight. “That Russ never had been great at meeting those needs.”
What he learned is that God will give him peace IN trouble. “Now I let Him set the day’s agenda. That’s a whole new experience. I changed from ‘What am I doing’ to ‘Am I listening?’
“My pastor encouraged me to go to seminary and my wife supported the idea. By spacing my infusions just right and praying intently for God’s help, I completed the work. I am now a licensed pastor.” In addition to providing pulpit supply, Russ teaches men at the local chapter of an international Bible study organization; gives devotions weekly to his church choir, to students in the law school where he taught, and is writing a book.
“On some infusion days, I want to climb in a cave and avoid all human contact. But a surprising thing can also happen. While reading is painful, still the act of reading just one verse in the Bible is something like stepping outside for fresh air.
“God is the master heart transplant surgeon. He meets me in my troubles with His peace inside of me, driving out anxiety and stress. Even if my lousy circumstances never change, He is enabling me to endure and overcome the brokenness of life on earth.”
Blessings,
Marion
http://www.marionduckworthministries.com
http://www.healinghopeonline.com
*Russ is a pseudonym
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