Out of the Ashes We Rise - Part II

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Summary: In His perfect love, sometimes God reduces men and women to ground zero. He strips them of all wealth, possessions, prestige, friends, family, security, withdrawing even mental and physical health. Then out of the ash heap, God tenderly creates a priceless vessel so filled with the fragrance of Christ the world is brought to its knees in speechless adoration. It is a process only the broken can truly comprehend.

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I first met George Keller one sultry summer morning in 1997. In route to a business meeting in Everett, my car overheated. Enduring the extreme August heat with no air conditioning, I crept up the interstate, traveling about 20 mph. Thirty minutes later I made it to the city and stopped at the first auto repair shop I could find.

After explaining the problem to the desk attendant, I made myself comfortable in the customer service lounge.  I was just beginning to return some client calls when George walked in and sat down in a seat just opposite mine. I was so engrossed in my work I hardly noticed his arrival. 

At some point, George initiated the conversation. After introducing himself, he began to recount one of the most captivating stories I have ever heard. For the next forty-five minutes, in an otherwise bustling automotive shop, time stood still. It was like angels had been dispatched to the scene and engulfed us in a sort of heavenly isolation chamber.  Nothing and no one was allowed to interfere with this divine encounter. The phone did not ring, no voice blared out over the intercom, and not a single person walked in or out of the room. Not even the flies hovering over the box of donuts near the coffee pot were allowed to interrupt the incredible message of one humbled man.

George did not recount a story of woes or regrets. He did not spew bitter accusations against law enforcement, prosecutors, the media, the church, or friends who abandoned his family when they needed support the most. No, George wanted to talk about Jesus.

I was mesmerized. I don’t think I moved, blinked or breathed while George spoke. The power of God-honoring, raw humility in the aftermath of such suffering was absolutely overwhelming. I’d never experienced anything like it before.

After relating the highlights of the past few years, there was one and only one thought George wanted to make sure I understood. “After everything we have been through,” he concluded, “if Jesus Christ can restore our lives, no matter what you’ve been through, Jesus can restore your life as well.”

Then George said, “So, what’s your story?” At that moment, our time bubble burst. Radios blared, two employees rushed in and grabbed a donut in each hand, and there was a string of loudspeaker announcements.

“Ah…well,” I stammered.  I didn’t know what to say. My mind was still trying to recover from the incredible story I had just heard. I wanted to stay “in the moment” and embrace the overwhelming, sweet presence of Jesus which had just poured out of this man’s heart and soul like a fountain of living water. It seemed like an eternity passed before I was able to say anything of value.

When I regained my composure, I offered a brief summary of my life, my shared faith in Christ and my current profession. As turned out, George was in need of my services. He was just beginning to re-establish connections within the business community. My company was able to provide George with the telecommunications tools he needed while protecting his privacy. It seemed his family was still receiving threats. Apparently, not all the victims of Paul’s crimes were as willing to forgive the Keller family as their church had been.

George Keller was subsequently given the privilege of sharing his story with people all across the country. Whether the audience was law enforcement, firefighters, educators, or psychiatric experts, the message and results were the same. Being overwhelmed by the humble presence of Christ in this man’s life, crowds were brought to their knees and hundreds received salvation and the healing touch of Christ. George Keller’s story continues to inspire even the victims of his son’s crimes.

Many people have faced difficult moral dilemmas within their families, whether the parents of a special needs child or not. So what makes George’s story so different?  It’s really very simple. Years earlier, George had put his faith in the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ. When the trial came, he didn’t seek to numb it or escape from it. He embraced the painful realities unfolding around him and discovered God was embracing Him. God sustained his family through excruciating experiences and George realized he had been sustained for a reason. He became willing to let others share in his suffering so they may also share in the saving power of his Savior.

George had the courage to tell a story he still wept over. I told his story to my sales manager and the owner of my company. They shared it with their families and friends. I have now shared it with you.  

So what’s your story? Are you the parent of an ADHD child? Has God sustained your family through challenging experiences? No matter what your story, no matter what your past, out of the ashes of enormous suffering God can raise you up and use your story of suffering to bring healing and salvation to others. Will you let him?

George Keller’s most often shared verse was Jeremiah 29:11. “I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”[1] God is committed to giving His people a future of peace and grounds for continuing to believe in those things we have hoped for, even in the midst of agonizing human tragedy.

If God can sustain and renew George Keller, God can sustain and restore anyone. If you believe this, tell someone!

Click here for more information on George Keller’s story:

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/306097_arson05.html

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/archives/184880.asp

http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1995/9501230020.asp

References

[1] Blue Letter Bible. "The Major Prophet Jeremiah 29 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter    Bible. 1996-2010. 10 Nov 2010. < http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jer&c=29&t=NASB >

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