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Our steps His Hands
The steps of a man are established by the Lord and He delights in his way. When he falls, he shall
not be hurled headlong: because the Lord is the One who holds his hand. Psalm 37:23-24 (NAS) It was seventeen years ago that Mark went home to
the Father. He had suited up, helmet, shin guards, chest protector, boots and gloves; all the best protection man had to offer
for dirt bikers. Yet, as Mark finished a jump in his back yard, his 500cc bike came down on top of him breaking his neck.
Mark’s wife and two sons were in Colorado visiting grandparents. It was the following day before the children next door
found him. Mark was my friend, but everyone knew Mark in his own way. To
some Mark was a father, a husband, to others encourager, teacher or friend but most importantly, Mark truly was a child of
God. The Sunday night following Mark’s
accident, as I stood in the field behind his house and surveyed the yard that Mark had labored over, I couldn’t help
being overwhelmed with my feelings of loss. It was then that I felt Mark the encourager place his arm around
my shoulder and remind me that he had always planned on only being here for a visit. He reminded me that
after we have suffered for a little while, the same God that called us to eternal glory in Christ would strengthen
and restore us. In my heart I knew he was right and I recalled how Mark always seemed to be
able to look past the problems and circumstances and hold firm to the truth. Like our last trip to the
mountains. Mark wanted his adopted sons Ben and Chris to catch some fish and he thought the
challenge of a mountain hike would be a good learning experience. Everybody caught fish that
day except Chris and it was obvious that Chris was disappointed. That afternoon, on the hike back to the
truck, Mark, Chris and I were lagging behind the rest of the group and Mark began talking to Chris about his disappointment.
I can remember Mark asking Chris why, after all the prayer, hard work and effort, the Lord would allow him to come home empty-handed.
Chris pondered for a moment and I suppose in an effort to sound mature, despite the suddenness of the question, he
responded, “ Maybe God just wanted me to learn how to endure.” . Mark agreed that the
events of the day might have been to that very end but he shared that while Chris had been fishing he had been laying down
on the rocks overlooking the lake, relaxing in the sun. The emerald green lake sat at the base of a nine-thousand
foot peak in a small basin in the Frank Church Wilderness Area. Mark shared that he had prayed about Chris not catching any
fish and asked the Lord why. Mark told Chris that the Lord had given him a different answer.
The answer came to Mark in the form of a question. Mark said that the Lord asked
him to look around where he lay and queried, “My child, isn’t this enough?” Mark knew
how to listen. At work in the weeks that followed, though I was very busy, I had an aching sense
of loneliness. I became aware of the fact that the security of knowing Mark would be there if I needed
to talk was gone and though there were many people around me to talk with, there was nobody who would listen
and advise like only Mark could. For one brief moment I was angry and I asked God why he had taken Mark
so soon when there were so many who still needed him. I fantasized for a moment and imagined what I would do if I could have
just one selfish wish granted and in that very instant I understood. I was amazed at how patient the Lord
had been in waiting so long for Mark to come home. To this day I really miss Mark but I’m so thankful
for the many lasting ways he touched my life and for the many times he brought me to a better understanding of my relationship
to the Father.
Your Brother
in Christ, Jim
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