I still shudder when I recall to my mind Memorial Weekend five years ago in nearby Wimberley, Texas. The story of Jonathan McCombs and his wife, Laura, Leighton and Andrew still lives in my heart.
The McCombs were enjoying Memorial Day weekend with friends when a Cypress tree fell, knocking the house off the foundation and into the Blanco River. Twelve people died that day in the Wimberley floods, eight from that vacation house.
At one point, McCombs knew he had lost his family and friends and recalled “At this point, I know that I’ve lost my friends and my family. I’m underwater. I’m tired. I don’t want to live anymore.” He hit a rock underwater that appeared to jar him back to reality. He renewed his attempts to keep afloat and eventually was able to reach an embankment, climbed up a cliff and reached a house where residents called for help.
Five years later, Jonathan is remarried and a new father again. In more recent years, he has shared publicly about life after this trauma “The further I got away from God, the harder it was. The closer I would get to God, the better I could understand, deal with, cope and share my story to help somebody else. We serve a great God.” He also said in a recent interview “Live like it might be your last day. Laugh until it hurts and don’t be afraid to love or to be loved but love uncontrollably and without any remorse.” (Jonathan also shares his story in Max Lucado’s book “Unshakable Hope.”)
I just can’t read about this story without some emotion as I picture what it must have been like to see and hear the torrent of water rushing into the house. Fathers trying to figure out what to do. Mommas scooping up their children. Jonathan’s wife calling her sister several times asking for help. People clinging to anything they could as the house sailed down the fast moving river.
How is McCombs able to speak about such hope after this? Wouldn’t you be angry at God or just want to give in to the pain that encompassed him? I’m sure it's not easy, but McCombs already had a personal relationship with God. In his struggle in the days and years ahead, he came to really see that drawing near to God was the best way to go. God has and will continue to sustain him.
Today, we remember. We remember our national veterans and give thanks. At this unique time in our country, we remember our first responders and give thanks. We remember all those who are no longer with us and give thanks for their lives.
Most of all, we remember a sovereign God of the universe who is in control even when it doesn’t sometimes feel like it. We remember that it is God who gives us a future and a hope and a reason to live, even when we may not feel like it.
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10
“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” James 4:8
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
Monday, May 25, 2020
Monday, May 18, 2020
Seeing and Being Seen
“I’m struggling mentally. Please pray for me.” I saw this on twitter the other day and one hundred plus people responded to the individual with some type of encouragement. I scrolled through the responses “I’m praying.” “Praying that His comfort brings you to His peace.” “I’m so sorry.” “I’m here if you need to talk.” “Advocating now.”
One of my concerns with the pandemic is that we suffer alone. We hide how we really feel from people, out of fear that they’ll judge us in some way. We keep our true feelings from others, hoping we’re putting up a good front. All the while, feeling alone, afraid and isolated.
I love the story of Hagar in the Bible. Hagar was the Egyptian servant of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. In the loneliness and despair of her circumstance, with no one to talk to, God showed up. Hagar knew it was not a mere angel who appeared to her. Hagar proclaimed “You are the God who sees me.” (El Roi) God was personal to Hagar. Dear one, God sees you today and loves you and wants to walk with you through these trying days. Will you let Him? (For more study on Hagar, read Genesis 16)
And we need to see each other too. Not just on facebook, twitter, workplace or one more zoom call, but face to face. We need to be able to look each other in the eye and say to each other “It’s perfectly OK to admit you’re not OK.” or “How are you really doing?” Our country has experienced a devastating amount of death in these past months and in many ways, we are mourning. We are mourning loss of life, adjusting to our new normal and fear from this pandemic. Honesty matters. We need each other.
What would it look like if every one of us had one or two people in our lives that were our “go to” people? They are the ones we could share our struggles, be honest and not judge. They are the ones we could trust would always pray for us at a moments notice. They are the ones that could hold confidences well. They are the people that SEE you and advocate for you. Who are your one or two people whom you can share your stuff?
Sadly, many people don’t have people like this in their lives. Will you reach out and initiate with some to be that for you? Be willing to give your true self and receive the true self of others. Let your guard down. Draw strength and hope from each other. Weep with those who weep. Rejoice with those who rejoice.
Remember, God sees you, so why hide from Him? Let your guard down and become known by God. Draw strength and hope from Him. Trust Him. Grow with Him. He sees you and will see you through.
“Hardly anything else reveals so well the fear and uncertainty among men as the length to which they will go to hide their true selves from each other and even from their own eyes.” AW Tozer
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
One of my concerns with the pandemic is that we suffer alone. We hide how we really feel from people, out of fear that they’ll judge us in some way. We keep our true feelings from others, hoping we’re putting up a good front. All the while, feeling alone, afraid and isolated.
I love the story of Hagar in the Bible. Hagar was the Egyptian servant of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. In the loneliness and despair of her circumstance, with no one to talk to, God showed up. Hagar knew it was not a mere angel who appeared to her. Hagar proclaimed “You are the God who sees me.” (El Roi) God was personal to Hagar. Dear one, God sees you today and loves you and wants to walk with you through these trying days. Will you let Him? (For more study on Hagar, read Genesis 16)
And we need to see each other too. Not just on facebook, twitter, workplace or one more zoom call, but face to face. We need to be able to look each other in the eye and say to each other “It’s perfectly OK to admit you’re not OK.” or “How are you really doing?” Our country has experienced a devastating amount of death in these past months and in many ways, we are mourning. We are mourning loss of life, adjusting to our new normal and fear from this pandemic. Honesty matters. We need each other.
What would it look like if every one of us had one or two people in our lives that were our “go to” people? They are the ones we could share our struggles, be honest and not judge. They are the ones we could trust would always pray for us at a moments notice. They are the ones that could hold confidences well. They are the people that SEE you and advocate for you. Who are your one or two people whom you can share your stuff?
Sadly, many people don’t have people like this in their lives. Will you reach out and initiate with some to be that for you? Be willing to give your true self and receive the true self of others. Let your guard down. Draw strength and hope from each other. Weep with those who weep. Rejoice with those who rejoice.
Remember, God sees you, so why hide from Him? Let your guard down and become known by God. Draw strength and hope from Him. Trust Him. Grow with Him. He sees you and will see you through.
“Hardly anything else reveals so well the fear and uncertainty among men as the length to which they will go to hide their true selves from each other and even from their own eyes.” AW Tozer
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
Monday, May 11, 2020
Personal Pandemic Pause
I don’t think there’s a lot of protocol for pandemics, but I feel the need to take a “Personal Pandemic Pause.” So, here are some of my thoughts during this time:
I am SO not in control. The pandemic is a reminder to me that I’m not in control, nor have I ever been. Though my schedule (and yours too) have been trashed in so many ways (graduations, weddings, vacations, work, etc.) God has not canceled being the ruler over all things. I’ve been asking God to enlarge my view of Him. He is God and I am not. What happens when I surrender my need for control? I recognize that He knows best and it’s really a good thing to live for Him, not myself.
Never stop praying. The pandemic has been a reminder to me of my need to persistently pray and never give up. I remember praying for two specific people who had COVID 19. I didn’t know these people, but I was praying for them daily. One of them survived; the other didn’t. Why did God answer my one prayer and not the other? I don’t know. But, that won't stop me from praying!
I think the pandemic should be a strong motivator to develop our own personal prayer lives. Prayer changes us AND what we pray for. Because I’ve seen this personally, I can’t imagine not praying! What’s going to keep you from constant worry and fear? Ask God to cultivate your prayer life. If you don’t know how to begin, let me know, I’d be happy to help you. (Email me: Nancya@ymcasatx.org)
Self Care. Our country has experience so much devastation in the last few months. Most of us are processing this in isolation. There are so many things we’re all feeling. These days are not easy! What do you need to do to care for yourself well? How is your mental health? If you’re not doing well, what steps can you take to take care of yourself? It’s perfectly okay to admit you’re not okay. If you need help, please reach out. I would love to visit with you and happy to resource you to what you need. (Email me: Nancya@ymcasatx.org)
Don’t let go of hope. Scotty Smith wrote “These are days where we need to rise up and live in His peace, love boldly and hope fiercely." We can’t let go of hope! With the angst of our country and tensions high, it’s good to focus on the priorities of Jesus: Feed the hungry. Care for the sick. Be kind to strangers. Love your neighbor. Stand up for the marginalized. Don’t forget the prisoner. Hang on to Jesus, who is Hope. Hang with whom Jesus hangs with. Don’t let go of hope and share that hope with others!
“I tried to fit you in the walls inside my mind. I try to keep you safely in between the lines. I try to put you in the box that I’ve designed. I try to pull you down so we are eye to eye. When did I forget that you’ve always been the king of the world? I try to take life back right out of the hands of the king of the world. How could I make you so small when you’re the one who holds it all? When did I forget that you’ve always been the king of the world?” King of the World, Song by Natalie Grant
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
I am SO not in control. The pandemic is a reminder to me that I’m not in control, nor have I ever been. Though my schedule (and yours too) have been trashed in so many ways (graduations, weddings, vacations, work, etc.) God has not canceled being the ruler over all things. I’ve been asking God to enlarge my view of Him. He is God and I am not. What happens when I surrender my need for control? I recognize that He knows best and it’s really a good thing to live for Him, not myself.
Never stop praying. The pandemic has been a reminder to me of my need to persistently pray and never give up. I remember praying for two specific people who had COVID 19. I didn’t know these people, but I was praying for them daily. One of them survived; the other didn’t. Why did God answer my one prayer and not the other? I don’t know. But, that won't stop me from praying!
I think the pandemic should be a strong motivator to develop our own personal prayer lives. Prayer changes us AND what we pray for. Because I’ve seen this personally, I can’t imagine not praying! What’s going to keep you from constant worry and fear? Ask God to cultivate your prayer life. If you don’t know how to begin, let me know, I’d be happy to help you. (Email me: Nancya@ymcasatx.org)
Self Care. Our country has experience so much devastation in the last few months. Most of us are processing this in isolation. There are so many things we’re all feeling. These days are not easy! What do you need to do to care for yourself well? How is your mental health? If you’re not doing well, what steps can you take to take care of yourself? It’s perfectly okay to admit you’re not okay. If you need help, please reach out. I would love to visit with you and happy to resource you to what you need. (Email me: Nancya@ymcasatx.org)
Don’t let go of hope. Scotty Smith wrote “These are days where we need to rise up and live in His peace, love boldly and hope fiercely." We can’t let go of hope! With the angst of our country and tensions high, it’s good to focus on the priorities of Jesus: Feed the hungry. Care for the sick. Be kind to strangers. Love your neighbor. Stand up for the marginalized. Don’t forget the prisoner. Hang on to Jesus, who is Hope. Hang with whom Jesus hangs with. Don’t let go of hope and share that hope with others!
“I tried to fit you in the walls inside my mind. I try to keep you safely in between the lines. I try to put you in the box that I’ve designed. I try to pull you down so we are eye to eye. When did I forget that you’ve always been the king of the world? I try to take life back right out of the hands of the king of the world. How could I make you so small when you’re the one who holds it all? When did I forget that you’ve always been the king of the world?” King of the World, Song by Natalie Grant
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Stick-to-itiveness
The year was 1987. I had the brilliant idea that it would be fun to bicycle the state of California. I reached out to a few friends to share my idea and before I knew it, four crazy girls were singing “California, Here We Come!”
We trained hard, planned a bit and off we went! We started our excursion in Redondo Beach and headed north on PCH Highway. The last day of our trip, we biked over the Golden Gate Bridge and coasted into Sausalito yelling with joy! We made it! Between those two cities, we camped on the beach, saw beautiful country and even met John Travolta in a Carmel restaurant. For this disco gal, I couldn’t have been happier.
But, with this trip came challenges. It wasn’t an easy trip. There were some intense hills. Crazy hills. Day after day, it took perseverance and a stick-to-itiveness to keep going north. This word, stick-to-itiveness, actually means dogged perseverance, tenacity, endurance, grit. We had really trained hard for this trip, but nothing prepared us for the intensity of the hills! But it took stick-to-itiveness to keep going when we wanted to give up. Perseverance. We would NOT give up.
I sense that most of us are weary of this pandemic. We’re ready to return to our former lives. There are times Ben or I will say “I just want this quarantine to be DONE!” I'm tired of not seeing friends. I'm tired of not going to work. I'm tired of not swimming. Etc. It feels similar to climbing those hills on PCH Highway. God helped me see my need for perseverance. Stick-to-itiveness.
I need God’s help for perseverance. Maybe you do too! Just listen God’s Word:
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galations 6:9
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12
We trained hard, planned a bit and off we went! We started our excursion in Redondo Beach and headed north on PCH Highway. The last day of our trip, we biked over the Golden Gate Bridge and coasted into Sausalito yelling with joy! We made it! Between those two cities, we camped on the beach, saw beautiful country and even met John Travolta in a Carmel restaurant. For this disco gal, I couldn’t have been happier.
But, with this trip came challenges. It wasn’t an easy trip. There were some intense hills. Crazy hills. Day after day, it took perseverance and a stick-to-itiveness to keep going north. This word, stick-to-itiveness, actually means dogged perseverance, tenacity, endurance, grit. We had really trained hard for this trip, but nothing prepared us for the intensity of the hills! But it took stick-to-itiveness to keep going when we wanted to give up. Perseverance. We would NOT give up.
I sense that most of us are weary of this pandemic. We’re ready to return to our former lives. There are times Ben or I will say “I just want this quarantine to be DONE!” I'm tired of not seeing friends. I'm tired of not going to work. I'm tired of not swimming. Etc. It feels similar to climbing those hills on PCH Highway. God helped me see my need for perseverance. Stick-to-itiveness.
I need God’s help for perseverance. Maybe you do too! Just listen God’s Word:
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galations 6:9
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12
“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might, he increases strength.” Isaiah 40:29
If you’re struggling with the quarantine like I am, give yourself some grace. This isn’t easy. But, also remember that our God gives encouragement, hope, and endurance. He strengthens us with perseverance when we ask for help. Fill your mind with these encouraging verses. He will see you through this hill and show you the other side.
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Ant
If you’re struggling with the quarantine like I am, give yourself some grace. This isn’t easy. But, also remember that our God gives encouragement, hope, and endurance. He strengthens us with perseverance when we ask for help. Fill your mind with these encouraging verses. He will see you through this hill and show you the other side.
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Ant
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