Pain's Platform

Kim Phuc, the girl running naked in the middle of this picture, has endured ENORMOUS pain. I had the opportunity to meet her this past Sunday, as she shared her painful story with my church. She's running naked because the firebombs that were just dropped on her village during the Veitnam War burned off all of her clothes as she was running to escape the flames. Her skin has third degree burns, and soon after this picture was taken, she passed out from pain...the only part of her that didn't burn was her feet, which allowed her the opportunity to run. The others in the picture are her brothers, cousins....family. Off to the right and just out of the frame of this picture is whom I believe Kim said is her aunt, who is carrying a little boy whose skin is actually hanging off of his body because it was burned off. What HORRIBLE pain. Not just physical, but emotional. Take a minute and google "Kim Phuc" ....see how well known she has become. The heart-wrenching picture above has actually won a Pulitzer Prize, which resulted in many coming to know the name Kim Phuc. I can't even begin to describe to you the emotions I went through as I sat there and listened to her describe her life story...she has been through multiple surgeries as a result of the burns, lost several family members, her home, ..and later, her freedom when the gov't of her country decided to control her every move and had people watch her 24 hours a day as a result of her face being the face of the war. I could share more of her story, but I know I could not do it justice. But the biggest thing that struck me was her platform. All of that pain has given her a platform for Christ. She has been on the Oprah show, met Queen Elizabeth...she even asked one of our world's kings if he knew whether he'd go to heaven or hell when he died. What a platform! See, she never would have had the platform had it not been for her pain. She's able to share the message of forgiveness...God's love, God's strength and grace, and it's all because pain's platform.

It made me think about friends and family, myself....the pains we go through. God has reasons for it and even though it's soooooooooo hard to understand, God still wants us to use those pains for His glory. Maybe you beat yourself up for bad choices you've made in your past - do you realize what a platform you have? Have you fought the battle with drugs? stealing? Addiction? ...do you realize the audience you have? If someone wants to overcome drugs - they're going to want to talk to YOU, and it's BECAUSE of those past bad choices and pains that you can relate! Maybe you've had bad things happen to you, through no fault of your own. While it's so hard to understand, realize what a blessing it can be! I think of Joni Erikson Tada who has an incredible ministry and is well known - and it's because she's paralyzed! If it weren't for that, many lives would not have been touched and hearts given over to Christ.

I'm sure when Kim, Joni, and others (and you!) went through the pain, they never would have thought about the platform that would go with it. It's amazing to think that God's hand was in that horrible day....He didn't cause the bombs, He wouldn't have wanted them, but He wants to use even them at that day to bring Him glory. Think about how long Kim had to wait to finally see what God wanted from all of it....almost 20 years went by before her platform was ready for her. But man....imagine if when she was in the hospital wishing she wasn't alive because of the pain...imagine if only she knew what God had in store for her. I bet He smiled down on her ....through tears...and willed her to hold on, knowing the good things that would come as a result. We need to remember God sees all time, and just trust Him when things make no sense. You never know what might REALLY be going on.

Don't forget....pain has a platform. Be thankful for it.

match.com and panera bread

Today is really cold and rainy - just the perfect day for a good book and the leather couch that sits beside the fireplace at Panera Bread! I love just sitting there watching people. I was sitting by the fireplace and a nice man came up and we started chatting..he first talked about how it was the perfect day to sit by the fireplace and then we started making small talk...then I went back to my book and he started in on his newspaper. I noticed he wasn't totally into the newspaper, because he kept looking at his watch and glancing around. I was trying to imagine who he might be waiting for - was it his wife, kids, long time friend? Time would tell...well, after about 45 minutes, a really pretty lady came up who had the same kindness about her that the man did...they welcomed each other and then he got up to get her some coffee. I was thinking how they really were the perfect couple - something about them just went together. They both were extremely friendly ....after he got up, she said the same exact sentence to me about the fireplace that he did, and I told her about it. Her eyes lit up and said how funny that was because they just met for the first time! They "met" through match.com and decided to finally meet in person. She quickly told me how nervous she was but then we changed the subject because he was coming back over... I delved back into my book to give them privacy, but it was fun to glance over every now and then and see how happy they looked to be together. Later, he got up again and the lady again was telling me all about him and he she thought he was soooooo handsome - it was really adorable share in her excitement! Later we all three were talking....I learned that he was from CA and just moved out here for his job in September...and also that he thought Maryland didn't have very good bread, lol. Which is what brought him to Panera... she has lived in Glen Burnie her whole life, but has been to CA many times, and she has a daughter who also loves to read. I also found out that they both believe in God and went to church right around the corner from my house.
I also noticed another couple walking in at about this time....they looked like they were in about their 60s and were so obviously in love. It was just the little things about them...how he put his hand on her back when they were wallking through the restaurant, the way he held the door for her, and just treated her like she was something special.
Something about sitting there today warmed my heart.... it's so special to watch people who are in love. I think everyone longs for that type of relationship. I know that I do someday. However, I think that right now God is trying to teach me to find my sole satisfaction in Him ... He is in Whom I should find my self-worth and value. He is the One capable of a love greater than any human affection. Human relationships are just a picture of God's relationship to us, at least they are supposed to be.
I hope that one day I can be the one with the one I love and have someone watching us, thinking how sweet it is. Until then, I will enjoy being a daughter of the King and take notice of all the ways He showers His love down on me.