Break a leg…or a neck?

The entertainment world is a superstitious one.  There are funny rules like: No whistling back stage, always leave a ghost light on the stage when you leave the theater, and everyone knows you don’t say “Good Luck”, you say “Break a leg.”  Nobody really wishes someone harm as they take the stage.

One of my dearest and beloved friends, Mark Priest, a comedic performer of the first rate was performing this week, lost his footing and fell hard into a brick wall. This simple little misstep caused him 55 stitches in his head, a broken wrist, a dislocated finger, but worst of all a broken neck.  The vertebrae that turns the head was fractured in three places.  Though he did not sustain any paralysis, he passed away four days later from a complication.

As a pastor, I’m used to walking with people through some of their lowest times.  I’ve seen faith-filled Christians lose their faith.  I’ve heard many church members say things they would have never said, as they try to wrap their head around their dark circumstances.  I’ve seen anger at God, I’ve heard cursing, and I’ve witnessed the hurt and disappointment on their faces.

Now, I have to tell you that my injured friend didn’t exhibit any of this behavior when he contemplated his significant disability.  He was sad and emotional about his hopes of returning to work, and about the upcoming contracts that he will be unable to fulfill, but he never got angry at God.  I did.

Does that surprise you?  Oh, I didn’t shake my fist at the heavens and shout obscenities at the Most High.  I felt that annoyed indignation that my wife shows me when I say something stupid in front of people.  You know what I mean.  If I could have found God’s leg under the table I would have kicked it, and given Him an icy stare that says, “What ARE YOU DOING?!”

“Come on God!  Don’t you know I’m trying to represent you to these people?  I’ve said some really great stuff about you.  They’re encouraged, heck, their even trusting you with their tithes.  And I don’t know if you’re paying attention here, but we’re having a Global economic crisis, and this guy was just starting to get work again.  What ARE YOU DOING?!”

I was gently reminded (mind you, God could kick my leg under the table any time He wants) of the words of another ministry friend of mine.  Pastor Steve Speight of Lichfield, England spoke of a plane full of angry travelers, sitting impatiently on the tarmac for 2 ½ hours, waiting to take off from Heathrow.  “I have to make my connection.”  “I’ve got important things to attend to.”  “Don’t those air controllers know what they’re doing?”

All the while, the experts in the tower have a perspective unlike anyone else.  They have the complete picture, including radar, traffic patterns, ground information, and weather updates all over the world.  If the annoyed passengers could see the dangers being avoided, they would handle the whole ordeal with more patience, knowing that the temporary inconvenience was for a preferable purpose.

No, I don’t believe God broke my friend’s neck, anymore than I believe the air traffic controllers break something vital on my airplane.  But I know that Romans 8:28 assures us that “God Causes all things to work together for good, for those who love Him, and are called according to His purpose.”

I was disappointed that all the hard work we did on his house wasn’t going to be seen by Mark, but then I remembered that Jesus said, “I’m going to prepare a place for you…”  I’m sure Mark is more amazed at his heavenly dwelling than anything we would have done for him here.

God is not wishing ill on us, and I would be superstitious to believe that He is.  He can see my life from such a better perspective than mine.  He wants us to do well.  He’s on our side.  And if occasionally I have to endure a few delays to my plans, I can trust that He’s working on a better solution.  I’m sad to lose my friend, but I’m sure he’s truly found “a better way to do life.”

In honor of Mark Priest 1962-2009