Crazy Connections, part 2

On my way home from work yesterday, my phone range and the number was from Dr. F's office, my neurologist. I was immediately wondering what is wrong. I have not talked to his office in quite some time, so I was suspicious.

Apparently, a current patient of Dr. F's found my article in the paper and wanted to talk to me. D, has an AVM too, and he is very apprehensive about going through the surgery. He has put off the surgery for about five months now, and his symptoms are worsening. Surgery is imminent for him. He went in to Dr. F's office yesterday with the article asking if he could be put in contact with me. Since there is no assurance that the surgery will turn out successfully, he want to talk to someone who came through OK.

I was SUPER excited when Dr. F's secretary told me the story. This is what I've been waiting for! I want to share my story, and I hope to encourage or bring comfort to other AVM patients with what God has done in my life.

I prayed before I called D as I was really not sure what to say now that the time had come. Turns out, I didn't say too much. I mostly let D vent. He is quite scared and rightly so. He has a family to take care of, and the outcome of this surgery could take away his ability to provide.

To say I felt inadequate to offer comfort is an understatement, how do you comfort someone twice your age with way more responsibilities on his shoulders?

As the conversation was drawing to a close, I offered a quick prayer up asking God if this was a witnessing opportunity or not. I didn't see how the conversation could be lead in that direction naturally. I know that God could still use me even if I didn't tell him that Jesus loves him. Literally, the next comment from D was:

So I was raised Baptist. I believe that God has a time for everyone. When that time comes, there's no stopping it. God's taking you home. 

How about that? I think it was God saying, "You have no idea of my power. It is not a large feat for me to change the direction of a conversation."

From then I was able to introduce the possibility to D that God can use other people and modern technology in his life. Maybe God isn't ready for you to die, and He is going to use this surgery to keep D alive. I told him that God created his brain, AVM and all, and who is D to say that God can't heal it. Hoping not to overstep my bounds, I also mentioned that there is a very real possibility that he will die if he doesn't try to take care of this problem. D didn't see upset by anything I said. So I hope I didn't do any damage to the situation.

I hope that God uses my babble to bring D and his family comfort through this time.