 Open the Door
Psalm 8:3-5 (NIV)
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
Contributed by Guest Writer
All Saints Member Kelly Hanson
God has been on the other side of the door for so long, but I was not ready to open it. He wanted to come into my life. He gave some really big signs. But I was not able to see Him, through the closed door. Now, when I look back on my life, I see that God was always there, saving me from so many trials. His plan for me was not always my plan, but He was there working all the time.
As an active skydiver, I jumped from a plane at 13,500 feet. Just flying out there I could see all the beauty of the world below from a “bird’s eye view.” Then I missed the landing area, landing in a tree. My first thought was “Damn. I broke a nail.” As the men cut me down from the tree they reminded me how lucky I was that a nail was all I broke.
That was the first time I missed. The second time I missed the landing area I landed on the asphalt runway and shattered my spine, my left foot and my right ankle. I heard my back break and lost the feeling from my waist down. I was screaming “Oh my God, Oh my God.” God, in his Glory, did watch over me as I entered two hospitals, the first turning me away. They were not equipped for the extent of my injuries. I was taken to a teaching hospital in Philly. God was with me as they put me back together. It was God who made a year of recovery possible within three months.
Next, God gave me all the signs to move from NewYork to come to a “no-humidity” state. Arizona was first choice. I left N.Y. with only my dog and the contents of my home by the beach. I was moving to an ocean-less state for my health. I knew there would be no family, no friends. But I was going to feel better.
After 6 months I was sure I should go home. I missed everything about N.Y.; mostly the food and, of course, my family and friends.
One day, my dog had an appointment at the vet inside Pet Smart. We walked around the store and ended up in the fish department where a man stopped me to pet my dog. Three years later we (the man from the fish department and I) are in the first row of All Saints each Sunday. God grabbed a hold of two sinners on the path of destruction to save us and put us in his grace. I waited until I was 42 years old to have a relationship with God. We talk everyday now. When I recently was laid off from my job, I yelled to my husband “This is not my plan.” He said oh-so-softly, “It’s God’s plan.” Yes. Now I listen to God. His voice is heard with open ears and open hearts. It took me a long time, but God never gave up on me.
Funny thing. In N.Y. I did not know any church people. In Arizona my family is made up from everyone one at All Saints.
|
