I need to write right now. Matter of fact I need to use this therapeutic green. I probably could write a book but will settle for the following short verses.
Nick is in the Psych ward at Paul Kimball Hospital.
But God prepared me for this on Sunday. Perhaps I hinted to this in my posting Life Application. I am not sure. I am kind of bleary eyed.
Well, Sunday saw me back to church. Back to my usual routine of hustle and bustle and oversight. It was good to be back in the saddle. It was great to be back in church. I cannot remember the last time I missed 2 weeks in a row. I think I have missed 4 weeks in 5 years. 3 of them vacation days, 1 I was in the hospital. But it was great to be back.
I love Sunday. I love the people of Sonrise and I even managed to catch most of Bill's message. Although I did not convey his main point very well in my previous post.
When Church ends my day begins again. We break down and pack our portable church up into a 6'x7'plastic shed that Citta Elementary allows us to keep in their storage room. We are very blessed and it is quite a unique situation. Well, following this I go out to my car....to discover...no keys. I figured I accidentally locked my keys in my tool box in my trunk because....I had to separate some communion trays with a special bike tool early in the morning. (go figure!)
So...I get offered by two friends, Mike H. and Pastor Bill to give me a ride home to get my spare set. Well, Bill just spoke and he had two boys in his car so I chose Mike. Mike gave me the ride and I picked up the keys. We came back to pick up my car and I was kind of embarrassed because I could not find my keys in my tool box.....
Despite that we were compelled to pray together. We prayed for Nick. Nick has been....well...acting out. He has been problematic. Not cooperating, angry, violent, etc. So we prayed for God to get Nick some help. I confessed some things before God and before Mike that I had never verbalized before. I will not get into detail. I presented the sin before the Lord and I know it was forgiven. (tears are welling folks)
Mike and I parted company. I went to a local store to buy some groceries for dinner. My cell phone rings and it is Mike. I thought this was quite peculiar.
Me- Hey Mike!”
Mike- MATTHEW! guess what?
Me- What Mike?
Mike- God wanted you and I to spend that time together today.
Me- (nonplussed) That's great Mike.
Mike-Do you remember when you went to get your tool box this morning?
Me- yeah
Mike- and I gave you my jacket so you would not catch cold?
Me- (starting to catch on) Doh! I left my keys in YOUR jacket.
Mike- Yes! and when I got home...I put my hand in my pocket and found your keys...and immediately knew God wanted us to spend that time together.
The neat part about this was that Mike and I did not really have the time to spend together. If I had my keys...I would have raced off and never prayed for Nick..same with Mike...he had 50 stops over the next 10 days to plan as a salesman for Broyhill.
So....that leads to tonight.
Basically. Nick pulls wool over Dad's eyes. Deceives Dad. Drinks. Next door at neighbor's house for several weeks. Dad is in Christmas season. Is sick and in holiday mode. Until tonight. Without getting into detail...which will take an hour to write...I catch Nick. He runs off blowing his stack. Dad doesn't want another broken nose.Calls Cops. Cops come. Nick threaten Cops, their brothers, mothers, dogs,and fleas. Cops take him to Psych ward because he just accelerates.
God put Nick where he needs to be.
Nick needs help and prayer. He was screaming at me tonight.
“Go ahead! Pray to your bleeping God! See what he will do for you!“
I was witnessing it in motion right before my eyes as Nick was taken away by two squad cars.
Bill Meyer used to counsel me to call the cops when Nick turns violent. In my defense I would say, “What Father would call the cops on his own son?” Now I know. One that loves him.
To be expanded upon next post.