Don boarded the plane to a new day this morning.
He left Valdosta, Georgia at around 2 A.M. to arrive at the Jacksonville, Florida airport at 4 A.M. so that he could catch his flight to Texas at 6:00 A.M. He is headed to a Christian rehab center to spend a year learning about who he is and what he can be now that the Lord has delivered him from drugs. Don knows that he has a long road ahead of him. He also knows he has a lot of friends who are “walking alongside him” as we pray for him.
Don called me yesterday to tell me good-bye. He told me how excited he was at this second chance that God is giving him. He told me he hopes that he can find a praise band somewhere so that he can continue to improve on playing the drums. I think Don is a great drummer….but he tells me there is so much more to learn. I told him we would look forward to the time when he returns to our praise team at church.
It seems like just yesterday that Don joined our group. He seemed a little shy and reserved, so I couldn’t believe the sound he could produce on those drums! He picked up on all the songs quickly. It was different playing “church tunes”. Don was used to playing in bars and for rock bands. He seemed to enjoy learning the new music. But then it wasn’t long before Don started missing practices and showing up at late for church and looking like he had had a rough night. We were all worried and wondered what to do. Thank goodness for REVIVAL! God never gave up on Don…..even when Don was willing to give up on himself.
I think about how awesome new days are! The Bible tells the story over and over of the new days that people experienced. For the Prodigal Son, it was the day he walked down the long road to his home and saw His Father waiting. For the woman caught in adultery, it was when Jesus stooped to write in the sand and all her accusers fled and there was only love left. For Nicodemus, it was the night he was willing to exchange wisdom for becoming like a baby again. For Zaccheus, it was when someone finally saw him for who he was, even when he was in the top of a tree.
Over and over the story is the same….life is hopeless and mundane until Jesus is invited to be a part of our life! Then the most amazing things begin to happen. We’re a son wearing the Father’s ring, we’re a daughter with dignity, we’re a child that has new life and we are someone who is valued by the Father.
I pray that as Don makes the journey today, he will begin to see the plans the Father has for him. His journey may have taken a detour over these last few years, but all roads can still lead to the Father’s home. I pray that Don will learn to hold the loving hand that is extended to him and that this new day will be the beginning of more new days to come!!
