No News......Good News ????

"No news is good news"; that old saying is usually used by the person who is busy, or having fun, or doesn't want to use their travel time to give report on their cell phone or by changing their Facebook status.  I cannot say that these are excuses I can use as it has been a few days since an update; I realize it caused consternation.  I was in tension as to how to report what was occurring.  That is why I shared a simple report and asked for prayer during last blog.  It has been hectic - spending time with him, discussing his condition with medical staff, thanking folks here at the Chandler Medical Center who provided Lance's acute care during November and December, quick trips home to work a few hours, and occassionally laying down for a 2-5 hour nap.

Lance is much better and has been improving for the past 72 hours - slowly.  The improvement seems sustained and if progress continues, we will be home soon.  The intestinal blockage resolved after much pain medicine to give him relief.  It has taken several days for the digestive system to work again and entire episode caused more weight loss as there were several days without receiving nutrition in his stomach.  The lungs have cleared significantly and we hope will continue as he becomes able to sit up again and resume therapy activities.  The bizarre part of this cascade of medical events was the imbalance in his sodium and potassium levels which had huge impact on his overall appearance and body function.  His entire body, but most noticeable in his face and neck,  was swollen for several days.  The anxious (and scary) part for us was the impact the illness had on his level of consciousness.  It was like we rolled back several weeks in time.  Lance was once again in the darkness (more like a coma) for several days and this was painful to accept and difficult to explain to you who contiinue to pray and trust God to be at work, healing Lance, restoring him with His miraculous power.

Lance is now interacting again.  He is not back to level which he had attained one month ago but has made large strides Wednesday and Thursday.  Today medical staff members were able to witness what we had been describing; it seemed hard for them to believe until they saw for themselves.  Our journey continues; this has been the most significant setback Lance has had, but once again he amazes me with his resilience.

I remember telling Lance, "No news is NOT good news; no news is scary!", before he left for extended trips.  The long ones were to Italy for a semester during his undergraduate years at UL and Turkey during his graduate work at UK.  I could usually depend on him to call, with news updates, so that my worries and sleepless nights were minimized.  As you read these verses from 2 Cor. 4:16-18, remember that the grace that Christ offered on the cross is available to all who will receive.  The love God has for us is better than good; it is GREAT NEWS.  Because of that love, He commanded light to shine out of darkness - when we allow the light (Jesus Christ) to enter our darkened hearts, you and I awaken to our created purpose and reflect the glory of God.  "Therefore we do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

"Here is Our King" is a David Crowder song that held one of Lance's favorite lines.  The chorus goes like this:   "He is our King, He is our love, He is our God who's come to bring us back to Him, He is the One, He is Jesus".  Lance's fav lyric was hidden in the second verse...."And what was said to the rose to make it unfold....was said to me here in my chest....so be quiet now and rest."  A rose, that can reflect God's glory, lies within each of us.  We just need to allow a hush...........some quiet time with God and scripture.......so we can soak up His power and His light.  The light, as it enters our heart, will unfold the rose that He created when He made you.  The miracle that occurred when you were formed in your mother's womb will be followed by the miracle of your unfolding rose.  Then the miracle of continual inward renewal, as promised in the scripture, can begin.  Now that is eternal good news we can all celebrate regardless of our temporary circumstances.

-John