“I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me. I will praise God’s name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving.” Psalm 69:29-30

As I focus on the outside through the glass door, I’m sitting in my air conditioned living room and can see it is shaping up to be an ‘I don’t know kind’ of a day. The sun is trying to shine, but it is overcast. And to top it off, a dang mourning Dove just won’t shut up! It’s like nature just knows!

Yesterday, I received a text yesterday that warranted an immediate callback. My 73 year old friend Dickie lived most of his life with Cerebral Palsy. And he was dying. I met him years ago when they wheeled him into church. In all that time, I never understood a single word he tried to say. I didn’t need to. His limbs, features and speech may have been distorted, But His love for Jesus Christ wasn’t!

It’s impossible to describe our mutual friendship in human words. When I’d walk into the room and Dickie would see me, his eyes would pop and he would shake in excitement. Often, a tear would slip from his eye. The holiness of those moments had absolutely NOTHING to do with ME… but EVERYTHING to do with our mutual Lord and Savior. To Dickie, I was like Jesus showing up!

When Judy held the phone to his ear, I could hear his sounds. And I knew. When I spoke to him, he rallied and he tried to speak. Though no words were formed, I knew what He was saying. So I prayed… and he calmed down. Within a couple hours, Dickie was free! So this morning, as a mourning dove continued to cry in the misty haze, it just seems… I don’t know… so very Holy!

It is tough being an eternal being… trapped in a failing, fleshly body… in a war zone… behind enemy lines. I KNOW my destiny and future with Christ. But that doesn’t stop me from feeling pain and sorrow over tough moments when they come. Death, loss, betrayal, cynicism or apathy can come from any direction, both friend or foe. And it usually leaves scars of pain, wonder and worship.

Psalm 69 is not just some random song of sadness experienced by David on a bad day! It is called a Messianic Psalm because it tells the feelings and experiences of The Messiah, Jesus Christ, about 1000 years BEFORE God’s Son came to Earth as a Baby. Psalm 69 speaks His heart as He hung on the cross. It is His mourning cry before He was reunited with His Father at resurrection. It is sad.

But it is these holy moments that let ME know Jesus just walked into the room. Subscribing to at least 10 different devotionals, they all mostly had 1 theme yesterday… the holiness of pain, sorrow and suffering in THIS life, because we ARE united WITH HIM in the Eternal life. To a Believer like me, THAT is cause for joy and celebration! Dickie’s life proves, in Christ, I am destined for Freedom!

Thanks for the singing Lesson Dickie… I’ll see you soon enough! Are YOU free?