Spiritually Whole

I heard a talk earlier this year given by Camille Johnson, the woman who leads my church’s women’s organization. She spoke about the biblical parable of the ten lepers, recounting how all ten lepers were healed—but only one was made whole. She then posed a question that struck me deeply: If healing and wholeness are not the same, can one be made spiritually whole by Him [Jesus], yet not be physically or emotionally healed?

She reminded us that the Master Healer will mend all of our afflictions—physical and emotional—in His time, but she also asked, “In the waiting to be healed, can one be whole?” Over the past many months, I've thought about that question many times.

On this 22nd anniversary of my car accident, I can truly say that I have been made whole. Not the kind of whole that allows me to “take up my bed and walk” as is spoken of in the fifth chapter of John, but a wholeness that fills me with a peace and joy that make my physical challenges easier to bear. 

If I had to sum up my accident and the effect it had on my life in one phrase, it would be this: what broke me physically healed me spiritually. The physical change that took place on November 17 was instantaneous. The spiritual transformation is ongoing. I am a work in progress and I am profoundly grateful for the wholeness I’ve found along the way. 💖

A PSA to keep you safe!

Now that it’s November—the month that changed my life forever—I thought it was the perfect time to share this visual PSA I created [see images below]. I hope it will make people pause and think when they are behind the wheel.

I was just 19 when my car accident happened; the girl who ran a red light and T-boned me was only 17. I’ll never know why she failed to stop at the red light—maybe she was adjusting the radio, reaching for her phone, or simply lost in thought for a moment. Whatever it was, that split second altered the course of my life. I’ve never harbored anger or bitterness toward her. In truth, it could have been me who made that same mistake. My only hope is that what happened served as a powerful reminder to her to stay alert, stay present, and always keep her eyes and mind focused on the road.

A brief pause before entering an intersection (especially when you are the first car in line) to make sure all cars have come to a stop is such a simple thing to do, and it could save you a real hassle! Parents, please share this post with your teen drivers. If my story or this message can help even one person be safer while driving, then my aim for creating this PSA has been accomplished. 💖