Sometimes life takes us to an unknown place.  We may have some notions of what this place could be like, or we may have no idea at all.  We have not yet been there. Life is continually a journey into the unknown. A friend shared with me today that he has been told he has Alzheimers/Dementia.  There have been no outward signs, no suspicions at all by anyone.  It is a total shock!  It is truly hard to believe and I find myself struggling over the news.  I don’t want to see this happening to my friend.  How fast will it come?  What about his family and friends?  How will it be for him inside that unknown place?  What will he know and understand?  What will he not know?  What will he not understand?

I began to think of moments in my ministry that spoke to me….

–  Jane had Alzheimer’s in a late stage.  We were not sure who she knew or did not know.  She seemed uneasy at this moment.  I had come to bring her Holy Communion.  I gently placed a very tiny crumb of the bread into her mouth and said,  “Jane, Jesus loves you.”  I wondered if she heard me inside that unknown place.  She tasted.  Then a wonderful peace came over her.  She smiled and continued the sentence softly….” loves me…….loves me………..loves me……………..loves…………..me………….”.  She knew.

– Leslie had lost her sight suddenly.  I had known her for years.  Such devastating news that she would not regain her sight!  She now must learn a new way to live.  Years later I saw her again in another city.  Across the room I became captivated seeing her face as we were singing a worship song about the light.  She had a beautiful glow on her face.  I felt so sad watching her sing while knowing her loss.  Later as we talked, I expressed my feelings to her.  She responded, “Nancy, what you don’t know is that when I became blind, the light never left me! I have always seen the light!”  Wow!  I had no idea.

– Our Mission Team was on our way to an unknown place in Africa.  What would it be like?  As we flew over the Sahara Desert, the world’s largest hot desert, I looked out the window of the plane.  I had never witnessed such a vast picture of miles of nothing but hot sand blown by the wind.  NOTHING.  Yet, I was drawn there.  It was a strong feeling which surprised me!  I realized in that moment, with nothing else present as far as I could see, there could only be God!  Suddenly it all became the fullness of the presence of God.

I think about these moments and I ask…Is this what Alzheimers is like inside that unknown place?  What about any unknown place you and I face?  Perhaps the unknown place is a place of knowing.

I remember the words of scripture….”Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God…..” Thanks God!!

nk