Nate is a newlywed ...well, that's the way they refer to it as, but, they've been married for seven years now.
Nate & LaVern both work at the World Trade Center, where they'd first met. Their three young boys have a touch of the flu on this particular day.
LaVern has an important meeting to go to, so naturally Nate is elected to stay home with the boys. He doesn't mind at all ...he looks forward to spending time with them. He loves those three boys.
But Nate also loves LaVern. And on that day of September 11, 2001, LaVern does not come home ...she never will come home.
Nate cannot cope with his fury. Nate's parents offer to take care of the three boys for a while, so Nate can get a grip on himself. But Nate doesn't ...and that little while turns into a long while, as Nate enlists in the army. For an entire week he had not told the boys what happened to Mom ...but, now he tells his young boys that he is going to get those people who killed Mom.
All that comes about rather quickly. Though Nate felt he had to get away ...some things you can't get away from, and others you shouldn't. It takes a good measure of discretion sometimes ...to tell the difference. And it's best that emotions not get too much in the way. We often feel following our heart is good ...but, not if it's filled with anger.
That was the very thing that clouded Nate's judgment when he was soon confronted with something he felt he couldn't run from. No, it would not be expected for him to run ...but, they had expected him to wait just long enough to coordinate the effort. There's a difference between running from, and running to ...and running alone into.
The fact is, Nate now couldn't run at all.
Nate receives a medal for bravery, and is visited by those working with the Wounded Warriors program.
One nurse who is working closely with that organization helps him work on his emotional side, which he is struggling with more than his physical limitations. She also helps him see that he is passing on his limitations to his three boys.
Nate is told that she had joined the program after she had lost her husband in Iraq. Her name is Evelyn.
Evelyn has three girls. They laugh when they all get together for the first time, saying it is kind of like the Brady Bunch.
And as scripted, they get married too.
Nate is also given work at a factory that makes solar panels. Things are looking up, until four months into their marriage Evelyn is diagnosed with cancer. The cancer comes on strong ...and once again, Nate is devastated.
Evelyn is not strong enough to beat the cancer, but she is emotionally strong ...she has to be, for the both of them, as Nate then loses his job at the factory.
They soon realize that it will be difficult to make ends meet ...so, it is Evelyn who suggests they move to an apartment. The apartment is near the city, in a not so glamorous neighborhood. Evelyn says she does not want to spend her last months in a hospital. They will tough it out together, the eight of them.
The neighbors are not too friendly ...and though it seems no one ss interested in anyone else during the day, the night makes up for it. Nate comes close to calling the police a couple of times, but then the police come calling on him. Though neither he, nor his family realize it as the police ...as they are dressed with suit and tie, and carrying Bibles.
The one plainclothes officer does all the talking, "We've had a lot of violence in this neighborhood. If it were me, with your wife and six kids, I'd move out of here as quick as possible. But I don't know if it'd be quick enough."
Nate is confused, "What do you mean, not quick enough?"
"Well, we've done the best we can do ...but we haven't been able to nab them. We haven't even had so much as a lead. But today, we got a lead ...and the word is, they get your house tonight."
Nate knows this is for real, "My family and I will get out right now!"
The officer explains, "I don't think you get what I'm trying to say. We got our information from one of their rival gangs. It would be embarrassing to them if you got away ...it would be even more dangerous if you tried to leave now."
Nate asks, "What do you suggest we do?"
"We suggest you wait for them to break in."
Nate is tense, "What? And subject my family to that? How can you guarantee how far it will go? What if it gets out-of-hand, and you can't stop them? I'd rather take my chances right now; we're leaving!"
"You have no idea what you are up against!"
Nate tries not to raise his voice, as he doesn't want his family to hear, "If you feel you can help me, why don't you do it now!"
"We can't ...because we have nothing on them; we can't do anything because we've never caught them. You are our first big chance."
Nate does not want to cooperate, "I don't want to be subjected to chance! What a wonderful chance to have my family terrorized! No thanks, ...I pass."
The other officer finally gets a word in, "Just tell your family that it's not real, that you've been asked to participate in a movie. Maybe they will play along."
Nate shakes his head, "We don't let our children watch violent films. I'm not playing along."
The first officer looks frustrated with what he views as uncooperative, "Just look out your window ...what do you see?"
Nate sighs, "I see that I have to get my family together, and tell them the truth."
***************************
We are told that God is in control of everything ...and I am in total agreement with that truth. But we often get hung up on what we view as God controlling everything.
We look forward to life eternal in paradise with God ...what is referred to as our promise of Heaven. But until then, we live here on earth where God has permitted Satan also to live. Is our whole existence in jeopardy because of that arrangement? No, God is in control of everything ...He sent His Son, Jesus, to save us. Yes, it is all under control ...but God gives us the ability to choose, and he doesn't control everything. He permits things to happen. If He didn't, we would have no freedom of choice, and how different would we be than robots? And how could we define love, if it didn't allow us freedom of choice?
If He controlled everything ...wouldn't we already be in paradise? Satan will be under control in End Times, and until then we also have to understand that there are things we don't know about ...that God does guide us through. Because of our lack of understanding, I would confidently say I've assuredly misspoke several times already ...inclusive of my misunderstanding, and my inability to communicate even the slightest things I do understand.
What I do know ...gives me enough promise and hope, and I believe that it is revealed to us the singular truth about our Creator. I also know that when we follow Him, it is reflected in the kind of society of people we are ...and when we don't follow Him, much suffering follows. That is not to say that suffering does not come to those who follow Him. If we could ask the Apostles, they would tell us that it is well worth it. And there are many missionaries, and singular believers, throughout the world who also stand as a shining example of that very way of life.
But though we see many believers suffer, God does provide us with moments in our lives where He seems to control us more ...and that is when we pray, and desire to have the Holy Spirit control our lives. The Holy Spirit will lead us in our strivings, our attitudes, and our actions ...and we will not only be led to the love of Jesus, but to follow Him in our response to areas where love is seldom found. And that is where it can really make a difference!!
Yet, few of us would welcome a moment where we'd have to endure what Job had to endure ...and we could list many more Biblical examples of that nature, as well as mentioning many examples in our own lives too. Yes, we do believe in the tremendous value of every person ...beginning with the moment they are conceived in the womb. But we also know of those uncomfortable moments where little value is often placed on those lives ...and many who are born, find all too often that little has changed on that level. But let me level with you ...the only One who can make a difference, made the difference. We should know that ...and we should never allow ourselves to slip so far from the truth that we become a part of those words, "Depart from Me, I never knew you!"
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