If I had not experienced firsthand the action-packed intensity of those traveling years with Sue Thomas, I would be an entirely different person than I am today. She had a contagious exuberance and joy of living that has left a lasting impression on me.
Most people only saw her energy and the passion she had to encourage others. She never said “no” to an open door. Many times we would be in California or New Mexico one day, and then take a ‘red-eye’ midnight flight through four time zones in order to be at another event in Boston or Washington DC the next day.
“The stress of traveling like this can’t be good for your MS…” I would cautiously begin.
“It’s not stressful. It’s fun!” Sue would retort with a grin. I quickly discovered I had joined forces with a real Energizer Bunny.
Those early years traveling with Sue were nothing short of a whirlwind. Often the clothes would go from the suitcase straight into the washing machine and right back into the suitcase.
What the world did not see was Sue’s other constant traveling companion… the extreme fatigue and electrical jolting pain from her MS. Or the episodes of blindness from inflammation of the optic nerve.
As her nurse, I developed an eye for those little cues that told me she was “crashing” long before she came down from the platform. I could see her faltering…yet somehow she would find a second wind to finish her speech, close the session by summoning enough strength to sing her signature song, Silent Night, and then buzz to the book table, where she would meet people, hear their stories, and offer even more words of encouragement.
She would finally retreat to the privacy of the hotel room and collapse on the bed. As time went on and her MS progressed, it would take several days for her to recuperate well enough to travel home.
Facing those odds, my own natural inclination would have been to give up and sit down, but not Sue! With dogged determination she plowed forward even through the thickest of afflictions.
She loved to encourage herself with those verses in 2nd Corinthians 1:3-5.
“My Father is the God of all comfort, who comforts me in all my afflictions, so that I can comfort those afflicted with the comfort I myself receive from God.”
Our feet are so grounded in this world… until we realize the road ahead is all uphill and full of rocks. Our body aches with the effort. Our heels become bruised. It’s when we face struggles and afflictions on our journey that Life quickly becomes Real.
Maybe you’ve heard this slightly sarcastic statement. “ I don’t want to be so heavenly minded, that I’m no earthly good.”
Watching Sue, I concluded the very opposite. The more Heavenly Minded we are, the more Earthly Good we’re going to be!
Instead of going through the day in a frantic frenzy, we have a deeper understanding of the purpose of this Life.
“Thank God! He has made us His captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession.
Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.
Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God!” 2 Corinthians 2:14-15
A. W. Tozer made this astute observation. “People are more concerned with Earth
than with Heaven.
They would rather “do something”, than to commune with God.”
In Tozer’s era there was a strong emphasis on keeping busy with Christian activities and duties, and the end result often was neglected Alone Time with God.
In our modern age we sometimes find ourselves in the opposite ditch where we’ve drifted into a more self absorbed perspective. “Be all you can be. You deserve God’s best. Do what feels good. God wants you to be happy no matter what. Live your truth.”
Or it’s all about the Selfie, where we can recreate ourselves into our Own Perfect Image or viral video to get likes. (When did “like” become a noun, anyway?)
Talking about Heaven just seems so out of this world.
But none of that other stuff reflects Reality. It’s temporary and empty. It lasts for a moment and then the fame fizzles.
Tozer continues:
“The average Christian feels a lot nearer to this world
than the World Above…
It is to our lasting reproach that we cannot live full well-rounded and symmetrical lives, embodying in our redeemed personalities both the practical service of Martha and the adoring vision of Mary.” A W Tozer
When we spend time with Jesus it takes the focus off of us.
With our eyes ever looking upward into our Father’s eyes, and with hearts awake to Eternity, we will become completely immersed in what He has given us to do on this Earth.
Sue Thomas was a good example of that. She delighted in pouring her Life into what God wanted her to do.
You see, He has redeemed both body and soul so that we can live a life that is
well-rounded and symmetrical.
Balanced on both sides.
Acutely Aware
of both
Here and There.
Or like Psalm 116 says,
“I walk in the Lord’s Presence while Here on Earth.”
If we walk through each day with an ever increasing awareness
that He sees us,
surrounds us,
and sings over us,
Then, because His Presence is Near,
when we go through those times of being
too tired,
too sick,
too worn out,
and just can’t take another step,
He picks us up and carries us… just like that old Footprints poem.
Did You abandon me, Lord? Why is there only one set of blood-stained footprints?
” No, those footprint impressions are Mine. You see, I have been carrying you.”
