Celebrating Our Silver – We Got By With a Lot of Help – and a
Little Heat – From Our Friends!
25 years ago, today, I stood in
the garden of the YWAM Philippines Balut Missionary Base in Manila without stateside
friends or family present and committed to the most important decision of my
life. As one very close friend recounted
during our celebration of this momentous decision a few weeks ago, at the time,
the decision was controversial and was met with a great deal of skepticism. Of the many people I approached for blessing,
my pastor opposed the decision, several professors in my seminary did, and some
family friends were fearful to say the least.
My mentor’s wife and her friends were very vocal in their opposition to my
decision and a few acquaintances were convinced I had experienced a break with
reality. On Luz’s side, fear was the
most prominent sentiment, with many of her friends voicing concerns and
advising caution. One trusted mentor
reasoned that this scenario of the “American Knight in Shining Armor coming to
the rescue” was the worst thing that could happen and just not what Luz and the
girls needed. In many ways, it felt like
we were astronauts poised for lift off, while the Mission Control specialists
ticked off all of the broken systems that pointed to a need to scrub the launch:
“Finances – no go. Time acquainted with
each other – no go. Living space – no go.
Definitive plan for the future – no go.
Plan for immigration for Luz and the girls – no go. Broad support of
spiritual leaders and advisors – no go.”
With all of these elements in question, why in the world did we take the
bold and seemingly crazy step of getting married anyway?
Things were not quite as they
appeared. Both of us were blessed with
the support and blessings of our immediate families and our very closest
friends. Those who knew us best and
heard all of the facts, understood that our situation was somewhat unusual, but
felt that the two of us were rather unusual as well, and that based on knowing
us, our histories and our way of thinking and approach to life, the scenario
actually made sense. Our friends had
first asked us tough questions, tested our motives, closely scrutinized each of
us and confronted us with unpleasant and challenging possibilities of the
future. After subjecting us to a
gauntlet of tests, blessings were given.
In addition, Luz and I also scrutinized each other. Luz tested me on all
fronts, observing how I dealt with anger, disappointment, difficulties and
being out of my comfort zone for extended periods of time. I had the privilege of observing Luz under
pressure, in tough situations and saw in her a woman who was capable of
handling any challenge that life could throw at her. Besides testing each other, we prayed – and fasted-
a lot! We didn’t pray out of desperation
but in preparation.
While apart from each other, we
spent one day a week for 6 months coordinating a time of fasting and prayer
where we replaced our physical nourishment with the spiritual food of prayer, meditation
and contemplation. We searched our own
hearts and focused on preparing ourselves for the challenges that awaited us. We allowed further scrutiny from supportive friends
and targeted areas that clearly need work. We then continued to ask each other
the toughest questions we could formulate. After being ruthlessly candid about our
life views on every subject we could consider, and sparing no effort to
discover the real people behind our smiles, we KNEW we were made for each
other. At that point, the opposition mattered
very little to us. We had faith in each
other as the team that had to “fly the rocket” and we had absolute faith in the
Director of Mission Control – the Lord – believing that He was not only with us
but had indeed orchestrated our coming together.
Why look back on the naysayers
and challenges to our coming together as we celebrate our Silver
Anniversary? To stick out tongues out at
those individuals time proved to be wrong? It is tempting, but no, that’s not
the reason. I remember those who
questioned our coming together and I am as thankful for them as I am those who
were supportive from the beginning. Because of the tough questions these dear
friends asked, and the skepticism with which they viewed our potential union, Luz
and I were forced to look beyond the surface into the depths of the realities
of the heart. Because of friends who
were courageous enough to ask us if we really knew what we were doing and if we
had seriously counted the costs and the risks, we actually counted the costs
and risks and prepared ourselves for the journey that awaited us. I look back at those individuals because once
Luz and I were committed to each other in marriage, these friends committed themselves
to walk with us in support and encouragement in spite of their doubts – even my
mentor’s wife and her entourage! That commitment to help us and to basically
work to see that disaster did not happen, has provided a testimony of love and
faithfulness that all involved can now celebrate!
Our 25th anniversary
has provided us with the opportunity to thank God for all of our friends, as we
realize that we’ve made it this far because so many cared and so many shared –
even when they thought we were wrong!
That’s what makes this Silver Anniversary such a shining moment! Through
each step of our journey as a family, we’ve been blessed to have committed
friends stand with us. We appreciate all
you have done to make it easier for us to fully experience the love God gave us
for each other. Luz and I have committed once again to continue walking
together in life and we invite you all to continue to walk with us in encouragement,
advisement and love. With friends like you
and God’s love binding us together, we can’t wait to see what will unfold in
the years ahead. Thank you for being our
friends – it has made all of the difference!
With great love and appreciation,
Sam and Luz