Another update on Marv is warranted today. I talked with Carol, Marv's wife this morning. He is totally zapped. Mentally and spiritually stripped down - like a big vacuum came in and sucked out all his energy. The hospice chaplain was in yesterday...and that is his diagnosis after being with Marv. Phones have been shut off, and a sign on their door (which was previously open to all) states no visitors unless by appointment, and limited to 15 min.
In talking with Carol I was reminded of this story:
Matthew 5
21When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet 23and pleaded earnestly with him, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." 29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" 31"You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' " 32But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
Jesus' power was zapped, did you catch that? Even our Almighty was drained in his ministry of healing the spiritually and physically unhealthy. Marv has been seeing a stream of visitors, despite being fatigued. It is his nature to help others, his desire for others to discover God's grace and be redeemed - despite the costs of his own well-being. Each visit drained him of energy. But Jesus, besides being Jesus, spent every early morning ALONE and in prayer with his Father in heaven - His energy was renewed.
We haven't had a visit with Marv since his 75th birthday in January, and although it has been hard, we know how important his energy level is.
A "check-in" phone call mid-week, and a quick hug before and after church had to do, he could handle no more. Marv needs...alone time, to be with his heavenly Father. He needs to hear God whispering his name, the Spirit breathing inside him - the ruack that gives life. Marv needs his space, and with all that he has done for so many, we owe that to him, as difficult as it may be to stay away. Quiet time allows God to renew, we know that for certain.
I don't know whether to ask for prayer for his extreme fatigue and energy renewal, or for God to be merciful and take his beloved son Home. Please pray for Carol, and heck, my family too. This is a hard day. I strongly feel there is power in numbers, and ask that you please lift Marv up. Thanks so VERY much.
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