Deep Calls Out to Deep

For Lisa

My best friend Mandy has been my friend since we were three years old.  I don’t really remember not knowing her even though interestingly enough, I remember meeting her.  And from that day her family was mine and mine was hers.  Recently, her sister Lisa passed away unexpectedly.   This was devastating.  As Mandy and I met in a Sunday School class, God has always been a part of our friendship.  She flew to Texas where I was living at the time my dad passed away.  This was a huge sacrifice for her because she is terrified to fly.  As a matter of fact, when we were teenagers, my goofy dad tried to help her through this fear with a completely fictitious statistic that she was as likely to die by a plane landing on her as she was in a plane crash.  Now she’s also afraid one will land on her.  But she flew nonetheless because we laugh together, pray for each other, and when the time comes, we are there for each other when it’s time to give our family members back to God.

So, when I was spending time with her family in the wake of Lisa’s death, many Lisa stories and memories came up among us.  One very special one came to me.  When my husband and I first moved back near my hometown, we started going to church with Mandy, her husband, children, and Lisa.  One Sunday after the service I tried three times to get in my car and leave.  All three times, something drew me back.  Mandy wanted to give me another hug, Christopher had meant to give me two shirts for Barry and me, the pastor remembered something he meant to tell me.  When I was finally getting in my car again, Mandy noticed me.

“You’re still here?” she said.

I replied, “Yeah, it’s like something is stopping me from leaving.”

Finally, I went on my way.  I was heading to a new restaurant and the GPS was leading me down a road I really don’t like and would not have chosen.  But I went that way because I’m not directional.  While I was driving, I noticed a car had slammed head on into a tree.  It looked like it had just happened.  Beside the car, I saw Lisa on the phone crying.  It took a minute to get to a safe place to pull over. 

I got out of the car and started making my way to her.  I heard her say into the phone, to Mandy I would later find out, “It’s Wendy.” 

I said, “Lisa, I see you.”

As soon as it came out of my mouth, I thought what a dumb thing to say!  I’m walking to her on the side of a treacherous cliff in church heels.  It’s unlikely this is a coincidental stroll.  Of course I saw her.

But later, I thought about my odd choice of words.  And honestly when you are terrified and alone, what better thought than someone who loves me sees me and they’re already coming to help.

Our Father is always that someone.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.

Matthew 10:29

He looks out the window at us just to see if anything frail as a sparrow should fall.

Rich Mullins