December 1, 2005 my career was on top of the world. I was working with some of the biggest celebrities, in the country music industry, and had just finished the first national homecoming for Vietnam veterans that gained world exposure and turned out to be a history channel documentary. My mother’s health was still good enough to travel and a few months earlier my parents were my guest at Operation Homecoming USA and rubbing elbows with all of the Joint Chief of Staff to the President of the United States. In January 2005, I had directed and produced the Inaugural Ball for the President and First Lady.
I was just finishing a grueling tour- Nashville, Branson, Chicago, Davenport, Branson, Nashville, and on to Loveland to surprise my mom and dad for Thanksgiving all over a nine day stretch. God was already preparing me for the guest I hated for many years prior to December 2005. I look back on the tour and God let me see all the people that meant a lot to me and were close to my heart. My busy family, that never has much time for me when I travel, had all the time in the world. I remember thinking as I headed back to Branson after a great holiday how fortunate we were to spend time together. Everything was great as I parted back home knowing I needed rest before my military USO tour that would start five days before Christmas.
Amarillo, TX 2:00am it was evident to me that the uninvited guest had arrived not knowing hours from that moment my life would change forever. My temperature was 104 degrees and my focus was on home because I knew that something was crippling me on the inside. All by myself I traveled across Oklahoma praying to God that he would let me make it home, as God spoke to me through the radio- through song. I passed out in a rest stop bathroom. When I came to a man would not help me telling his son I had too much to drink. They thought I was drunk.
The only way I was able to make it to the hospital from that trip was through my faith in God. I knew I was extremely sick. I really was in so much pain my doctor was amazed I lived through the journey home. Prayer, scripture, and God’s voice got me home nothing else. All the teaching from my past kept running through my head along with memories from my childhood. If you really believe in God and really need his help he will see you through was clear to me that day. Even when you know there is a storm ahead, he will carry you to the storm and will help you to face your Uninvited Guest. When God is preparing you for a storm in your life who do you call out to? Who do you trust? Do you pull over to the side of the road and die or do you keep your eye focused on the solution and keep driving? Do you let the others who ignore your cry for help convince you to give up? The attitude that you choose and your faith will see you through!
To be continued on Saturday July 11, 2009!
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