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How I Struck Out

11/3/2017

8 Comments

 
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     Her name came to mind as quietly as a cat walking.
     “Susan.”
     She’s a friend I’d made in stretching class at the rec center. A vibrant redhead, she would kid me about my impossible dream of reaching down and actually touching my toes. Susan could. After class, she’d head to the machines for weight training. She always attacked life head on.
     One day Susan walked into class with her usual determined grin and announced to everyone she had fourth-stage lung cancer. She’d never been a smoker. Never even allowed smoking in her home. Go figure.
     Her strength evaporated. She stopped attending class and vanished into the ozone of chemotherapy. I emailed, getting one-sentence replies. I ran into her once at the doctors when we were both there for lab work. At first I didn’t recognize her with the red bandana on her head and the shuffle in her step. “How is it?” I asked. “So far, so good,” she whispered, managing a smile.

DIVINE NUDGE
    
​     She disappeared from my radar. Then the thought came: “Susan.” I knew it was a God-prompt to pray. Maybe contact her.
     I was busy with important stuff, I thought, so I’d email later. I wrote her name on a slip of paper to remind myself. The paper shifted around my desk. I didn’t contact her. Forgot to pray.
     A week later at the rec center, another friend told me, “Susan passed away last night.”
     My heart ached. I’d struck out. Even if the baseballs had been juiced in this game, I would have whiffed them because I was batting at other things in life. Things as inconsequential as gnats now. I missed the opportunity to pray for strength for Susan as she rounded third and flew into home base.
     But I haven’t left the playing field. I’m sitting in the bleachers, praying for her family as they slump in the dugout of their grief.
     Some people call nudges like I got “hearing from God,” and I think they’re right. They’re invitations to join the Almighty in his cosmic work. What a mystery, and what a privilege that I don’t want to miss out on.
​     Have you acted on any divine nudges lately?

8 Comments
Cyndi Dissing
11/3/2017 06:54:42 am

Oh Trish...I wish I could say “I can’t relate”, but I’ve gotten those nudges from God and, sadly, procrastinated too long. Thankfully, I can also say there have been times I acted immediately and received a blessing for my obedience. As long as we walk this earth we continue to grow in our relationship with Him and the words to the song become true...”Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in JESUS, than to trust and obey.”

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Trish Hermanson link
11/3/2017 07:30:19 am

Cyndi, isn't it great when we do respond, and it's such a joy to be in the divine orchestra!

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Donna Schlachter link
11/3/2017 07:13:57 am

Trish, thanks for this! I feel your pain. This happened to me many years ago and, like you, I thought I had time. And I blamed myself for many years. This man I was supposed to visit didn't know Jesus, and was he now spending eternity in hell? But then someone far wiser reminded me that we don't always plant--sometimes we water, sometimes we weed, and sometimes we see the harvest.

Just recently, my brother and I had a situation, and I was ready to say, "fine. have it your way." But the Lord nudged me and said, "Give him some grace. He doesn't know Me." So I did, and things worked out and all is well again.

I am so thankful the Lord entrusts these promptings to me. I don't always get it right. I don't always act when I should. But once in a while, He lets me see that I am not as hopeless as the devil might make me want to believe.

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Trish Hermanson link
11/3/2017 07:31:44 am

Yes, it's such a privilege to get these prompts. How amazing!

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S
11/3/2017 08:55:57 am

Thanks for the reminder. One of my New Years Resolutions was to re-connect with 1 former friend each week. Phone call or coffee. The other night my wife commented, November already. Oops, what happened to that resolution . One good friend and former office mate has already passed on. Just 2 months to get back on track for 2017. I can do it!!!!!

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Trish Hermanson link
11/3/2017 09:39:00 am

What a great resolution! Thanks for commenting.

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Julie Tombari
11/3/2017 08:28:14 pm

I love you, Aunt Trish! Thank you for your beautiful, honest writing! Thank you for sharing your gift!

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Trish Hermanson link
11/4/2017 07:02:53 am

Julie, we're on this journey together.

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