Week 28...

A friend of mine from Ridge Church recently lost her mom. In those situations, I don't always know the right words to say, so I thought I'd sing them. The old hymn, "It Is Well With My Soul" has always been there to comfort me in times of grief. Here is an instance.

When I was young, I did not like school. Nothing interested me. It wasn't that I was bad at certain subjects. It wasn't that it was hard. It was mostly that I didn't like doing something I wasn't interested in. Still don't, honestly. My eighth grade year, something changed. I was given a teacher who made me excited about learning. Mr. Ozment was my science teacher. He found a spark in me and knew how to build it into a flame. I performed wonderfully on his projects and tests; Even did my homework. That year, I started a Bible study group that met before school. Mr. Oz was our sponsor. I loved everything about the man and was sad when the year ended. Even though he was no longer my teacher, I would often make my way to his classroom, just to hang out with him.

One day, I was sick and stayed home from school. Later that afternoon, one of my friends called me on the phone to see how I was. He said, "I heard the news and figured you had to leave school." I was confused and said, "What news? That I was sick?" He replied, "No, that Mr. Ozment died of a heart attack this morning on the way to school." I remember not being able to speak. I was genuinely crushed to the point that no air was moving in and out of my lungs. When I finally could talk, I told him, "I have to go," and hung up the phone. I sat down on my bed, leaned over and turned on my radio, then laid down with tears in my eyes. The song that was playing through the speakers was, "It Is Well With My Soul." I just wept.

If you don't know the story behind the song, you can read it over here. Horatio Spafford lost everything, but he knew he served a God who is just and righteous. The same one that I serve. Sometimes the words may be hard to find, but there is peace in the arms of the Great Comforter. When everything seems to disappear, He is the only constant in this world. I am glad that I know who He is.

Enjoy,

Christopher

     Recorded July 16-18, 2012. This one goes out to Danielle and Brett. Praying for peace for you and yours.
     "It Is Well With My Soul" written by Horatio G. Spafford. Tune by Philip Bliss.