This Too Shall Pass

Haven't written in a while, other than the back and forth between my amazingly gifted editor as the two of us craft my next book, "Come Let Us Reason Together."

This has been quite a year for the testing of my heart and even my theology. The book seems timely, as well as therapeutic, perhaps a preface to this next season. Let me explain by way of a real story, one that only devoted owners can fully appreciate.

After 14 years of companionship, we had to "put down" our beloved Coach this past March, due to lymphatic cancer. We had attempted to prolong his days by way of prednisone, but he soon communicated sufficiently that it was time to let him go.

Some days later, undergoing a greater than anticipated grief, I visited the local humane society and walked away with another canine companion. We call her CoCo, which was the grandchildren's nickname for our dear, Coach.

She, unlike Coach, has proven to be what one pet lover described as a "velcro dog!" The in-your-lap, toy retrieving, master-pleasing, demanding type! As many stop to share, when we walk her, she is quite the darling to look at as well!

As I write, I am sitting in the garage of our vacation home, its concrete floors more easily cleaned, as I await the passing of a small foreign body which she apparently ingested a couple days ago.

ER vets are quite expensive, as we just found out. Fortunately we were told, based on x-rays and a sonogram that surgery would be unlikely. We were told in so many words, "This too shall pass!"

This morning still, we await the moment, though the interim is quite messy.

That however, is not why I am writing, but is significant as you will see.

These last couple years in my spiritual journey, hint at what some are now calling "deconstruction." Best put, a season where one reconsiders the "faith of our fathers", a complex time of unlearning and relearning, with thoughts emerging that most status quo evangelicals are hesitant to hear.

For those of you who are reading my blog for the first time, unless you have read one of my several books, you are likely unaware that I am the product of four generations of Pentecostal heritage. I use the word "heritage" with affection and gratitude.

My wife and I are quite comfortable with the concept of prayer, always expecting miracles, even now serving on the prayer team of a charismatic Presbyterian congregation. We are however some seven years removed from the Pentecostal denomination in which we both served for over 40 years.

Those earlier years now compound the perplexity of my personal deconstruction. In fact, just this past week, while on a stay at our vacation home, I decided to visit a church within my former denomination. I had seen an online advertisement of a two day miracle revival. I came away struggling with the emotions experienced, though the two and a half hour service was quite predictable.

I had truly struggled with my reason for attending, though compelled by some sense of need for obedience, the word in my spirit was "I will show you, why." I think it was for contrast, given this current season of theological struggle.

Transparency seems now the requirement of this season, perhaps a necessary gift by way of eldership, given the generational challenges facing the institutional church. However, I left that small church wondering if I had actually gone astray, given the gap between the night's experience and my current ministry life.

Getting real lengthy here, but this past week has seemed a full circle, if not some critical mass attained in my personal journey.

Back to the pup....

The irony of these last few days has been telling to reflect upon.

Sunday a week ago, we were serving in the prayer room of our church, when a very professional looking couple, near our age was directed to us. They shared some background of who they were, then abruptly asked that we pray for their daughter's dog. I thought that to be quite strange, but of course I was ripe with empathy.

We awkwardly assured them that we were dog people, sharing our recent loss. They then went on to explain their daughter's dilemma, as the dog was a critical part of the daughter's life, a service dog.

Get this, it had ingested an object that was blocking its intestines!

Now you sense the parallel with this post!

We of course prayed for the dog as well as the daughter. It truly was a very meaningful moment with these two strangers, particularly the fact that I am a daughter-dad, thus quite a bonding moment between the two of us guys!

The story gets even better, as yesterday when we were pulling into the parking lot of the Emergency Care Veterinarian, I took a call on my phone from an unknown caller. It was the gentleman with whom we had prayed. He had gotten my number by way of the church office, in order to tell us about their pup's miracle!

Unbeknownst to him, I had already received an earlier text from the church, sharing what the couple had turned in on a prayer card this past Sunday:

"To John and Ladonna Bost: You prayed last week over our daughter AND (emphasis theirs) her medical service dog who were both having medical issues. Dog, Miss Penny, and Annie are both 100% healed! Thank you!!"

Go figure!

How does this story relate to the negative emotions I was carrying just after my visit to the local Pentecostal revival?

That moment perhaps foreordained in order to reassure me that although my theology and the trajectory of my faith journey has shifted radically, the "effectual fervent prayers" still offered at times "avail much".

As well, according to James 5:16, my righteousness, if not my shifting theology, though at times questionable have been once more affirmed!

Praise God!