No Turning Back

I just wrapped up a reading of a prepublication draft of No Turning Back. You should read it (I’ll loan you my copy or you might be able to get one from BICWM). Think “Blessed Be Your Name” with skin on. The book tells the story of the Zook children. Four of them went to serve as missionaries overseas. Three of the four died. The thing that most struck me as I read through was the Zook’s trust in the goodness of God and their repeated choice to praise him despite apparent tragedy.

I want to take from this reading the decision to trust God no matter what, to praise God no matter what. On the days when life seems miserable, at times when I feel lonely, when I feel overwhelmed by more than I can do, I want to still say “blessed be the name of the Lord.” I pray that though he “give and take away, my heart will choose to say ‘Lord blessed be your name’.”

Another thing that struck me was the call to fill their places. There are so many things that make crossing the oceans easier today. Planes allow quick travel back and forth. The internet allows face to face video communication. So where are the volunteers? Where are the harvesters? What should I do to help mobilize God’s army?

The book included a post script letting the reader know that the twin infants of one of the couples that died in India were raised by the Aunt and then moved away and distanced themselves from all reminders of their past. As a pastor’s kid, the struggles of pastors’ and missionaries’ kids have always hit me hard. My parents have done a great job of minimizing the PK struggles that are within their control and they have helped me choose to bless the Lord through the ones that are out of their control. How can I pass that on to other kids? How can I pass that on to my own kids? What precautions can I take so that if I die, my kids stick close to the Lord?