Welcome.

I’m in grateful awe of one of my friends. He’s a million and one things to me. In short, He’s a wonder.

He helps me when I haven’t asked for it. He shows up unexpectedly when I’m in a bind and rescues me. He bails me out way more than I deserve. He doesn’t walk in front of me or behind me but right alongside me if I haven’t pushed him away.

Sometimes He surprises me. Other times, He flat out asks me to do hard things. Admittedly, too often He is about the business of simply reminding me, but He never says, “See, I told you so.” He just whispers, “Try again. You can do it.”

When I need it most, He puts what feels like a warm, sherpa blanket over my shoulders because I’m cold from the inside out and He detects that I have the shivers. He inspires me. He is beautiful. He has my deepest admiration.

He is a God.

He is the Holy Ghost.

Here I share two experiences where (1) I was unexpectedly rescued without even knowing I was in trouble and (2) He showed up and hung around when I needed Him most.

I was serving on active duty in the United States Air Force and was stationed at Malstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana. My assignment was in the Family Medicine clinic.

Down the hall was the optometry center. One of the Airmen in that clinic had his eye on me, and we had, over the course of a few days, exchanged a few pleasantries via emails and in person communications. He had invited me to travel to Canada to watch a hockey game with him that upcoming weekend. Having previously crossed over into Canada and found it a delightful place and having never seen a hockey game, I intended to go with him, though I did not know him well.

On the Friday of the weekend I was to go to Canada, I finished my work duties and began tidying things up for the evening. As I was preparing to leave the clinic, a civilian co-worker from the afore-mentioned optometry clinic tapped on the door of the patient room in which I was working, opened the door, and walked towards me. In a few brief sentences she clearly let me know that this Airmen had no good intentions and intended to take sexual advantage of me that weekend. I had been natively clueless! I thanked her liberally, and she left.

I closed the door and near breathless, dropped to my knees – unable to control the warm tears that profusely fell down my cheeks. I trembled as I realized I had been saved from a morally devastating and dreadful crisis. I was warned about a snare in which I was sure to have been entangled had I gone to Canada with that man. God had kindly sent the Holy Ghost to a woman of a different faith; bravely and to my everlasting benefit, she followed her premonition. I was rescued, and I didn’t even know I was in trouble.

Oh, the wonder of Him!

Losing our father unexpectedly at the tender age of 47 was a dreadful blow for our young family. Our angel mother courageously led us forward with tremendous faith in Christ. The moment my father died, I was in shock and went into a room to find some peace in prayer. As I began to pray, the impression came to go get the hymn book. I obeyed. I opened it, not knowing what song for which to search. It instantly fell open to page 124, Be Still My Soul:

“Be still, my soul…Leave to thy God to order and provide…

In ev’ry change he faithful will remain…

Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end…

All now mysterious shall be bright at last…

…The hour is hast’ning on

When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.” 1

There He was again, that friend of mine. Showing up and hanging tight just when I needed Him most. Right there in that crying my face off moment. Right beside me. He just asked me to, in that moment, be still. Just be still and know. I was still, and then I knew.

I knew God would be faithful in this change, this hardship. I felt God had a plan of order for our family, and somehow taking my dad at this time was part of that plan. I knew He would provide for our family.

I received assurance that the piercing thorn of death was overcome by the One who wore the crown of thorns. Thanks be to Jesus, my dad would live again! If ever I needed a friend, it was then. He came in one of my greatest moments of need.

Oh, the wonder of Him!

Unto all the world: Yep, I’m in grateful awe of one of my friends. He’s doing a million and one things for me, and I love Him. He has my deepest admiration. Plus, I’ll never get over the wonder of Him. He is a God. He is the Holy Ghost.

1. “Be Still, My Soul,” Hymns, 124