Last night I was taken advantage of in the worst way. Its not the first time it has happened- it was simply a new cast of characters and circumstances. A young woman that has come to numerous shows and spent time with my family back stage texted me to let me know she was committing suicide. She thanked me for loving her and said good-bye. When I saw the text, I immediately asked her if she was safe. She said no. Are you alone? She said yes, she didnt want help, she wanted to die. So my night ended by tracking down a police department help line five states away and calling in a welfare check. The police arrived and thats when her mother texted me. She was not alone. She had been with her family the entire time. Maybe she *felt* suicidal, but what she was telling me was not the truth of the matter. She was taken to the hospital and I cannot imagine the pain her mom is experiencing this morning. Take a deep breath and save your harsh words towards the young woman...keep reading. As I said, it has happened before. Once a girl told me her daughter was care-flighted to a hospital after a terrible wreck. The girl said she needed help, that she couldnt do this on her own. I called a friend of mine who is a pastor in her hometown- half across the country- and explained the situation. I couldnt help her, she needed a chaplain. He called the hospital and there was no record of the girl. He tried other hospitals with the same answer. I began to scour the internet. Surely a car wreck of this magnitude with a a teeny-tiny girl being care-flighted would make the police scanners or nightly news. No record of it anywhere. When I told the girl I had sent someone her way, but they couldnt find her- she went silent. I laid in bed last night and chastised myself. This is what you get for ever trusting anyone and giving your cell-phone number to these girls. Why are you so gullible Jenny Wont you ever learn- why do you love so hard? Why do you care? Arent you tired of looking like an idiot and putting yourself out there? The accusing questions flooded my heart.... And thats when Jesus gently whispered over me, I know. I know what its like to love. To care. To be taken advantage of. To be used. To be humiliated. To give chances to those who will betray me. To be lied to. And to keep showing up anyways. I know. And I fell asleep in the arms of a Savior who on my behalf came to earth 2,000 years ago and comes to the hearts of His children even now- knowing full well He might be taken advantage of, betrayed, lied to, humiliated even. Still, He shows up. And because of this reason alone... so will I. Dont grow weary in doing good, the bible says. Not because you wont get taken advantage of. At some point you probably will. No, dont grow weary in doing good because we are called to be imitators of Christs extreme, nonsensical, beautiful, undeserved, unearned love. It is the ultimate story of Christmas. Though God knows full well what the outcome might be... He keeps showing up. Emmanuel. God with us.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 12:55:51 +0000
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