:: Time Flies (a quick personal update) ::

Last week passed the 1-month mark of my last day at Trinity Chapel, and just over three months have passed since my car wreck and surgery. I'm not sure if timing was coincidental, but last week brought with it several calls, texts, messages asking how we're doing. Out of thanks for concerned friends, I thought I'd give a quick update since many folks are praying for us. So, to answer the question: we are doing well. Honestly; we're doing really well, in all aspects of life.

Physically, I've still got a screw in my wrist; I'll find out in a week whether it gets to be my permanent companion or not! And I've been in physical therapy for six weeks, with pretty much all movement coming back and strength/grip following closely behind. The only thing that doesn't seem to be returning is the ability to move my wrist "back" (or, "toward the 'top' of my arm" or "up" - not sure exactly how to describe it). Apparently there's enough scar tissue in my wrist that it just "hits a wall" when I try to move it that direction. If it's not better next week, they want to do "maniuplation therapy," which sounds amazingly fun and involves them knocking me out and, as the doctor said, "forcing it to move." Shivers down my spine? Yes. Please pray against that. But either way, I've got 90+% of function back, so I'm thankful!

Emotionally and spiritually, we're both doing much better. Even before my official last day of work, God began a rapid-fire blast of circumstances, meetings, and people in our lives, specifically regarding the next steps we'd been praying about for months. It's almost like God had everything planned out, and that he needed to move us exactly as and when he did, for us to realize the fulness of his plan for us. We have felt very affirmed and encouraged, from many angles, and this week we will begin letting folks know what we're doing next... it's exciting!

In the interest of full honesty, I'd be lying if I said we still don't have moments of hurt and anger, but these are growing more seldom. We've gotten much wise counsel along the way, and I've at least begun reconciling process with folks I know I wronged in the process of leaving, with hopes of restoring some of those relationships. I continue to hear rumors circulating about us, some of which are at best "misrepresentations" of the truth, if not flat-out lies. And those are tough to hear. But rather than try to fight them or get into "he said; she said" stuff (which would further confuse and frustrate), we find it most wise to stay silent, and to pray for those who are saying these things. And we hope that the open and transparent life that Jess and I strive for will speak for itself, and that people will either pursue answers from us directly, or weigh what they hear against the character they've come to know in us. Psalm 144:11; Proverbs 19:9; 21:23, 28; Ezekiel 13:8; Matthew 5:11-12, 44; and Ephesians 4:25 have been comforts as I've dealt with this.

Over the past month, we've kept close friendships; we got to take a quick weekend trip to get away from everything; we've both been pressed to spend more time in the Bible; and we're feeling God's presence and movement in our lives more. God has been very gracious in comfort, affirming in calling, generous in rest, and healing in pain. We've been busier than I thought we would be - Jess is three weeks into grad school (and is loving the class but not the studying), and I've been busier than expected, quicker than expected, as we pursue God's next steps for us.

So in all aspects of life, we're healing. We appreciate the calls and notes, and the continued support we feel from good friends. First Peter has been an amazing book for us, as we've seen God's purpose in suffering, and as we said from day one, we hold fast to the fact that God really does work all things - ALL things! - according to his plan (Eph 1) and for the good of his people (Rom 8).

So that's where we are as the dust settles. Thank you for asking, and thank you for continuing to pray for us... we're doing well!