Turning on a Call

It is amazing how life can change with a single phone call.

Communication of news--good or bad, can cause a lot of actions and associated reactions.

Life changes so quickly. Expectations. Plans.

Yesterday was one of those days that are just hard. The news was unexpected and hard to accept. It caused me to dig deep in my  faith and to provide support for those who are hurting.

Love was demonstrated by my family more than I can imagine. There was nothing easy to say--but there are heroes. One hero that I know has demonstrated nothing but perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds and three years of perpetual bad news. 

I was reminded of these words from Job after he had lost everything of value:

2:11 When Job’s three friends heard about all this calamity that had happened to him, each of them came from his own country  – Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite.  They met together  to come to show sympathy  for him and to console him. 2:12 But when they gazed intently from a distance but did not recognize him, they began to weep loudly. Each of them tore his robes, and they threw dust into the air over their heads.  2:13 Then they sat down with him on the groundfor seven days and seven nights, yet no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his pain  was very great.

I do not know, nor do I pretend to know the answer to the question why. From Job, I have learned that sometimes, the right thing to say is nothing at all, and just being there in silence is the right call.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD