My Friend Vicky

My friend Vicky is in the hospital.  Eleven months ago, Vicky scrimped and saved for a once in a lifetime trip to Mexico with her daughter. She’s a single mom.  While in Mexico her colon burst.  She nearly died.  Vicky was Medi-vacced to hospital for life saving treatment, and eventually flown home to British Columbia for additional care and hopefully to recover. 

Vicky and I had an international summit phone call
last summer with our friend Chuck in Pennsylvania.  

About a month ago Vicky had surgery to get her off her colostomy bag and reconnect her plumbing.  But there were complications.  Again, she nearly died.  The long-term medical issues  and financial problems were taking a toll on Vicky and her young teenage daughter. 

Not a big church goer before this, she couldn’t help but wonder why.  She prayed, she asked God why.  She groped for answers as any of us would.  She asked me.  I did my best. 

Vicky was one of my first buddies when we moved to British Columbia in 2004.  She has this great way of giving you a hard time, but with an affection and an ever-readiness to help.  Vicky introduced me to Canadian essentials like Strange Brew.  She used to pop into my office, which was right down the hall from hers, and ask deep questions about life and faith. 

Now it has been her turn to search, but in searching, Vicky has been coming up with profound answers, almost inadvertently.  I visited with her yesterday, and as she transitioned into her lessons learned, with great peace, Vicky described how she’s forgiven everyone she ever held anything against.  In the grand scheme, holding grudges is just not worth it.  She knows who she is now more than ever – Vicky has developed a sense of identity through her trial that makes the cacophony, and the drama and the petty concerns of everyday life seem trivial. When it gets down to life and death, and the thought of leaving your child alone, everything suddenly becomes clear.  She’s at peace.  Vicky knows what’s important now and what is not. 

If you think of it, say a prayer for Vicky. She’s had enough complications, enough drama.  Enough is enough for her daughter and she.  And may we all see so clearly.