THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

My friend Peter Tan has given me permission to share with you what I see in or hear from him because he wants his life to be a blessing. As you might recall Peter has been a quadriplegic for more than 10 years as a result of a gunshot wound suffered during a car robbery attempt. The other day when I visited him he shared with me about his son who is now working up north.THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

My friend Peter Tan has given me permission to share with you what I see in or hear from him because he wants his life to be a blessing. As you might recall Peter has been a quadriplegic for more than 10 years as a result of a gunshot wound suffered during a car robbery attempt. The other day when I visited him he shared with me about his son who is now working up north.

He told me that his son disclosed to him the pain he endured for reasons I cannot share with you here. While Peter was telling me story about his son, he cried. In all my years of knowing him, it was the first time I saw him cry. In the past I had seen him shed tears but never did he cry like this. He told me that when he heard his son share his pain, he couldn’t help but feel the pain himself.

While Peter felt the pain experienced by his son, I felt the pain that Peter felt. He told me that he had kidney stones but the doctor couldn’t do anything about it due to his weak condition. An operation to remove the stones might cause more physical problems. Consequently he has to live with these stones in his kidney. Being paralyzed he does not feel the pain but he can still feel the effect of the pain in his body. He said there are times he feels really so weak that he can’t even talk audibly.

When I was leaving, he insisted on “walking” me to my car. After we said goodbye, I drove away from the parking lot and it was then I saw him “driving” back into the nursing home on his wheelchair. I felt his pain and inside, I, too, cried. But, I remind myself that this tragedy—and the resulting paralysis—is a part of God’s salvation plan. Somehow through this tragedy someone has been brought to God’s Greatest Gift—the forgiveness of sin and eternal life in Jesus.

Pastor Paul

He told me that his son disclosed to him the pain he endured for reasons I cannot share with you here. While Peter was telling me story about his son, he cried. In all my years of knowing him, it was the first time I saw him cry. In the past I had seen him shed tears but never did he cry like this. He told me that when he heard his son share his pain, he couldn’t help but feel the pain himself.

While Peter felt the pain experienced by his son, I felt the pain that Peter felt. He told me that he had kidney stones but the doctor couldn’t do anything about it due to his weak condition. An operation to remove the stones might cause more physical problems. Consequently he has to live with these stones in his kidney. Being paralyzed he does not feel the pain but he can still feel the effect of the pain in his body. He said there are times he feels really so weak that he can’t even talk audibly.

When I was leaving, he insisted on “walking” me to my car. After we said goodbye, I drove away from the parking lot and it was then I saw him “driving” back into the nursing home on his wheelchair. I felt his pain and inside, I, too, cried. But, I remind myself that this tragedy—and the resulting paralysis—is a part of God’s salvation plan. Somehow through this tragedy someone has been brought to God’s Greatest Gift—the forgiveness of sin and eternal life in Jesus.

Pastor Paul