Editor’s word: Read half one among Loretta’s encounters with the flagman right here.
From inside my condominium I can hear the flagman’s radio buzz as he talks to his counterpart up the highway. Another dump truck of grime passes because the hillside comes down in preparation for brand spanking new foundations.
The flagman jogs my memory to decelerate my life. The subsequent time I cross and say hello, he asks what I do. I inform him about books I’ve written.
“You write books! My mother wrote a book about me,” he affords. His eyes dart forwards and backwards on the highway, ever vigilant at his publish. He calls on his radio, “Car coming!” and I wait a second. “Would you like to read it?” he asks.
I inform him I’d like to. “Let’s trade books!” I provide. He offers me Flights of Destiny, and I give him 2022: A Book of Grace-Filled Days. We speak briefly in regards to the worth of each day devotionals.
Later, after I start studying the e-book about this 34-yr-previous, I study of his miraculous rescue at age three and a half from Romania through the fall of communism. Born Gabriel and referred to as Gaby, the household renamed him Michael—after one other angel—to guard him from difficulties in his new life. The e-book describes his father’s horrible gasoline fireplace demise, a violent stepfather, a powerless mom, and Michael’s escape along with his sister into the arms of an adoptive household keen to like.
Michael earned a school diploma in advertising communications, however he works as a flagman whereas discerning God’s name, which appears to be drawing him to be a youth minister. He hesitates to simply accept this invitation, as a result of the wage is a lot lower than he will get holding a flag. And he enjoys studying about industrial building by observing. Nothing will get previous this flagman.
Some church buildings have already heard his testimony. He nearly died of stage 4 most cancers at age 20. When docs mentioned they may do nothing extra and referred the household to hospice, Michael’s mom refused to simply accept it. She heard a few weekend-lengthy therapeutic occasion in Florida. Michael might barely endure sitting in a wheelchair and being lifted right into a aircraft seat. He suffered excruciating ache from a damaged hip brought on by tumors. He couldn’t swallow; a feeding tube stored him alive.
On the plane, folks heading to the therapeutic convention started praying over Michael proper there. By the time they landed, Michael’s ache had decreased so considerably that he ate a hefty rib dinner and by no means wanted the feeding tube once more.
After the weekend, Michael stunned his docs. The lethal tumors have been gone. His bones have been restored.
Michael nonetheless holds the signal telling me to decelerate and recognize blessings. He is a witness to like and redemption. I’m wondering what God has in retailer for him subsequent.
Michael’s mom included her e-mail tackle on the finish of the e-book. We met for espresso and shared our religion. Connections happen once we dare to open a dialog with a stranger. That stranger is Christ.
Image by OlinEJ from Pixabay.