Beyond the Eclipse

THE ROAD TRAVELED
ISAIAH 40:31

Many never knew our son or reveled in his great sense of humor. Perhaps The Road Traveled will add insight as the steps of his journey are made known.
There are rare moments in time when God reveals His plan, unveiling things hidden. Slip back to the beginning of that moment in 1988. High school graduation from Blue Ridge School in Virginia had been celebrated, and college beckoned on the horizon.
One gift, a small mahogany frame, held beautiful calligraphy from Isaiah 40:31, “Those who wait upon the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles, They shall run and not grow weary, They shall walk and not faint.” Adam was not familiar with the verse, but his manners dictated the response, “Thank you so much,” just the same. He quipped that it was what he had always wanted along with his multitude of new Cross pens and personalized clipboards!
His journey commenced at the University of South Carolina. He loved college life, and it loved him. Whenever home, laughter and hometown friends were still part of this new life. One such trip reu-nited him with a young woman, and a friendship was forged. He spent time with her family, whose firm foundation was faith. The stained glass window that graced their family’s home revealed their walk. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15, RSV). This was a new experience for us, but we found that solid life endearing where a family walked out their faith.
Life moved forward, and the friendship remained solid between our son and this family. Fast forward to 1989 with one year of studies behind him. Adam experienced not feeling well, and in a mat-ter of weeks, tests went from a possible virus to the discovery of a lung tumor.
As we waited for his physician late one evening, expecting the report to reveal an earlier opinion that there was no cause for concern, the phone in the room rang. It was his friend’s dad, Mr. Barnhill, asking if he could come and pray with our son. If you knew our son’s sense of humor, you might not have expected his response to be one of delight minus the banter that was sure to follow, yet the words, “that would be great,” came without hesitation. Mr. Barnhill drove ninety miles late in the evening and walked through Adam’s hospital room door as the physician finished telling us the results were not good, that surgery would be scheduled immediately. We had unknowingly just become the recipients of God’s perfect timing.
Mr. Barnhill knew God’s nudges. He was so acquainted with his Lord through prayer that he obeyed this heart’s command to drive through a dark night to be with a family that was reeling from news they never saw coming.
He asked Adam if he were a Christian and then led him to the Lord through Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” The spirit truly does exult over each lost sheep that is found! The verse from Luke 15:6, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ was so evident throughout the dark night when joy overshadowed doubts and fears.
The tumor was removed, and recovery began. July 18, 1989, dawned and health was reclaimed when the diagnosis given that day showed no signs of cancer. Life went quickly back to one of thank-fulness, laughter, and college life.
Remember those words, “God reveals His plan?” A mere three months later symptoms resur-faced. There were subsequent tests and a diagnosis of brain tumors. This time Adam’s walk became one of calm and trust as salvation was assured. God had known what lay ahead and was in each moment. We were reminded of that as a telegram arrived some months later from another friend, Claire,—the ex-act verse from Isaiah 40:31! It confirmed that as we “waited upon the Lord,” we were all held securely even through impenetrable darkness.
One year to the day of Adam reclaiming his health, on July 18, 1990, he slipped into God’s pres-ence.
The bronze plaque that stands vigil over his grave reads, “Isaiah 40:31: They shall mount up with wings as eagles.” Through gifts of calligraphy, treasured friendships, telegrams, and a faith found, God truly did reveal His hand upon “The Road Traveled.”

Lord, the plans we each encounter in life, whether making them . . . or enduring them, are orchestrated by You. When answers don’t come as we hope or even accept, the whisper in Isaiah 55:9 continues to speak truth: “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Surround us with the wisdom that is woven throughout that verse. Amen