I went to lunch with my brother, Dr. Joel today. We were sitting there finishing our Mexican heart attacks on a plate when the server brought the bill. Dr. Joel had picked up the tab on this one and she handed him his card back and said, "Joel Hunter?" as lots of people in this town do when they see his name. He responded, "yes... I have a father by the same name you may know."
Most people then launch into some story about how they know Dad and what He has done for them or their friend or mother or cousin or whoever. The stories are nice to hear and really I never get tired of them. But, this lady was different. She didn't even flinch at the mention of Pops. She went on to ask about a brother of ours that is a minister "or something". She has a friend who goes to Summit. But, the conversation turned when Joel introduced me as his other brother. She asked, "now are you the one who recently lost your daughter?" This question is no longer foreign to me, so I politely said yes and thanked her for asking and caring. I really do think it's neat when people care enough to say something.
She eventually went on to talk about her sister, who opened the restaurant 28 years ago that had passed 2 years ago. She teared up a bit as she felt my pain and her own all in one fell swoop. I knew we had connected in a way that not everyone is capable of. She had followed Ava from afar and felt her story as she relived the pain of losing her sister 2 years ago. She talked of the reminders of seeing the restaurant she built everyday and the things her sister had written as she built the business from nothing. It was meaningful to me. She asked how I was doing and we chatted for a moment.
I have a new friend. I forget her name already, but it doesn't matter. It was a great reminder that so many around me walk around with broken parts of their lives every single day.
It was also a reminder that there is only one healer, only one who can make us whole again someday. His name is Jesus and he promises that following Him leads to eternal wholeness. He is the author and finisher of our faith.
I just remembered. Her name is Missy. And she is a friend.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
Good morning...
I spent 3 hours this morning with my brother in the squirrel woods. Yes, they are just regular woods, but whatever game you are pursuing, for whatever reason, is what you call those woods. The squirrel, deer, turkey...whatever woods are all the same woods for me. I don't go to many different places, but I don't need to. I just love being out in the _____ woods. (That blank is there to fill in an animal name, not because I was attempting to bleep out a word).
My soul gets restored in nature. I will have a great week this week and lots of it will be due to the fact that I got out and walked around in the wilderness chasing tree rats.
Turkey season is almost here...I can't wait.
Oh, I read a book last week called, "Heaven is for real". It's one of the few ever that changed my whole world. It's a picture of heaven from a 4 year old boy who went there for a short time when having an emergency appendectomy. What an incredible gift it was to me to be able to "see" our home. I have different peace now. Knowing she'd not want to come back even if given the chance and that she is loving every second of it. She's the lucky one. Soon enough we'll get to join her, but until then we've got some work to do.
Time to get after it!
My soul gets restored in nature. I will have a great week this week and lots of it will be due to the fact that I got out and walked around in the wilderness chasing tree rats.
Turkey season is almost here...I can't wait.
Oh, I read a book last week called, "Heaven is for real". It's one of the few ever that changed my whole world. It's a picture of heaven from a 4 year old boy who went there for a short time when having an emergency appendectomy. What an incredible gift it was to me to be able to "see" our home. I have different peace now. Knowing she'd not want to come back even if given the chance and that she is loving every second of it. She's the lucky one. Soon enough we'll get to join her, but until then we've got some work to do.
Time to get after it!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Checkin in'
I took a blog break. It was really helpful. I'm back in for now as I work to "flip" my schedule back to early mornings instead of late nights. I'm sure i'll have the occasional late night, but I'm workin' on making it the exception and not the rule. Also, while my month-long experiment with the devotional format was fun, it was more effort than I wanted it to be. If this thing starts feeling like homework, I won't do it. I have enough of that already. So, today is Hunter family life update day...this before I go back to rambling on about other stuff in the days ahead.
We are doing pretty well. Last weekend was the 5k for brain tumors that was run in Orlando. We were part of a team that ran for Ava and it was a really cool weekend. We got the pleasure of seeing and meeting a bunch of people who prayed so hard for her last summer. It was truly an awesome event. We set a record for team size for any event they have ever done and our team of over 160 people (out of a total of almost 500 racers) looked like a sea of purple in their Ava Hunter shirts. I'm not much into shirts in the fashion arena, but these were really cool. Lisa had them made and they had a drawing of Ava's name that she (Ava) made on the front, and a scripture on the back that read, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" 2 Tim. 4:7 ...it was awesome.
We still have bad moments. The days are better than they used to be, but the giant hole is still there. I'm just not as likely to fall into it every minute because I am used to it being there now. But, some days I still can't help it. We talk about Ava every single day still and there are many more laughs than there were. I would venture to say a few more laughs than tears even...
Hunter Vision is rocking along. A new year has brought a new momentum to the clinic. The staff is great and of course, the doc is still awesome. We are getting busy. Word is spreading and our appointment books no longer look like a family reunion invite list. That's how you know you are headed in the right direction.
I'll chat more tomorrow. I've got to get to a book I'm reading about how to be awesome. It's called the Bible.
We are doing pretty well. Last weekend was the 5k for brain tumors that was run in Orlando. We were part of a team that ran for Ava and it was a really cool weekend. We got the pleasure of seeing and meeting a bunch of people who prayed so hard for her last summer. It was truly an awesome event. We set a record for team size for any event they have ever done and our team of over 160 people (out of a total of almost 500 racers) looked like a sea of purple in their Ava Hunter shirts. I'm not much into shirts in the fashion arena, but these were really cool. Lisa had them made and they had a drawing of Ava's name that she (Ava) made on the front, and a scripture on the back that read, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" 2 Tim. 4:7 ...it was awesome.
We still have bad moments. The days are better than they used to be, but the giant hole is still there. I'm just not as likely to fall into it every minute because I am used to it being there now. But, some days I still can't help it. We talk about Ava every single day still and there are many more laughs than there were. I would venture to say a few more laughs than tears even...
Hunter Vision is rocking along. A new year has brought a new momentum to the clinic. The staff is great and of course, the doc is still awesome. We are getting busy. Word is spreading and our appointment books no longer look like a family reunion invite list. That's how you know you are headed in the right direction.
I'll chat more tomorrow. I've got to get to a book I'm reading about how to be awesome. It's called the Bible.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Break
With things running like crazy at Hunter Vision and the stupid cold I am fighting....I have taken a little break. Sorry I got too sidetracked to mention it until I was just reminded a few minutes ago :)
I'll be back in the groove soon.
I'll be back in the groove soon.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
HEB 10:35, 36
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
It's a put one foot in front of the other kind of week. There are seasons of life when these days come and they aren't all that fun. No major issues, just not much zip or momentum in the right direction. But, there is one thing I know that will turn it around...just keep walking through it until you are on the other side.
Good days ahead (at some point)... I'm certain of it. God promised it :)
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
It's a put one foot in front of the other kind of week. There are seasons of life when these days come and they aren't all that fun. No major issues, just not much zip or momentum in the right direction. But, there is one thing I know that will turn it around...just keep walking through it until you are on the other side.
Good days ahead (at some point)... I'm certain of it. God promised it :)
Monday, January 17, 2011
Worth Emulating
Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
I'm reading a lot in Hebrews. Not sure why, but I am glad I am. Today I realize how blessed I am to have leaders in my life who spoke the word of God to me at a young age. It was reinforced throughout our family, but I began to listen for real when I hit high school. I decided as a sophomore in high school that I would try to live as those around me had. I accepted Christ at about 4 years old, but didn't really understand what that meant for me until 10th grade.
I watched my parents, Grandma and Uncles and Aunts closely. They lived lives committed to Christ and full of integrity. The closer I got the more I saw how closely they followed. Now, I listen to my pastor, my brother, each weekend. He leads me as I follow his example and teaching.
Imitating the faith of those who seem to be giants can be intimidating, but they walk one step at a time just like we do. They may be a few paces ahead, but they got there the same way. One right decision at a time.
In the year of productivity, it's easy to want a magic bullet to get me where I want to be. I must remember as my leaders taught me... 1 step then another...a long obedience in the same direction.
***sidenote: It's my brother, Joel's birthday. I am grateful to be able to work along side such an incredible man. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to work with both my brothers and my dad. Happy Birthday, brother. I love you.
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
I'm reading a lot in Hebrews. Not sure why, but I am glad I am. Today I realize how blessed I am to have leaders in my life who spoke the word of God to me at a young age. It was reinforced throughout our family, but I began to listen for real when I hit high school. I decided as a sophomore in high school that I would try to live as those around me had. I accepted Christ at about 4 years old, but didn't really understand what that meant for me until 10th grade.
I watched my parents, Grandma and Uncles and Aunts closely. They lived lives committed to Christ and full of integrity. The closer I got the more I saw how closely they followed. Now, I listen to my pastor, my brother, each weekend. He leads me as I follow his example and teaching.
Imitating the faith of those who seem to be giants can be intimidating, but they walk one step at a time just like we do. They may be a few paces ahead, but they got there the same way. One right decision at a time.
In the year of productivity, it's easy to want a magic bullet to get me where I want to be. I must remember as my leaders taught me... 1 step then another...a long obedience in the same direction.
***sidenote: It's my brother, Joel's birthday. I am grateful to be able to work along side such an incredible man. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to work with both my brothers and my dad. Happy Birthday, brother. I love you.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Faith
Hebrew 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Living for and believing in that which I cannot see is sometimes tough. Sometimes it doesn't make earthly sense. Sometimes it's easier not to believe it. But always it is right to believe.
I want to live a life that is pleasing to God. I want to live a life that honors the legacy left by one little girl who touched many. I realize I cannot do that without faith. Not just a belief in some giant, unseen being that is untouchable, but a belief in the God of the universe who sent his son so that we could actually touch him.
I know God knows what it's like to lose a child. He willingly sacrificed His own. He did it for all of us. It's worth telling people about. It's worth living for.
I've never met a man who has fervently given his whole life to Jesus come back and say, "I wish I would have lived for myself more."
There is one way to perfection, one way to holiness and fulfilled purpose. It's a faith in Jesus that is unmoved. There may be days of misstep, but never death of commitment to Him. I will continue to have faith in Christ. It's the only place that faith is righteous.
In a year focused on productivity, and a life focused on making a difference, faith in anything else is futile.
Faith in Jesus promises I'll see Ava fully whole again. Like the saints before me, I will serve the Lord my best each day. It's a great day for me to remember this...
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Living for and believing in that which I cannot see is sometimes tough. Sometimes it doesn't make earthly sense. Sometimes it's easier not to believe it. But always it is right to believe.
I want to live a life that is pleasing to God. I want to live a life that honors the legacy left by one little girl who touched many. I realize I cannot do that without faith. Not just a belief in some giant, unseen being that is untouchable, but a belief in the God of the universe who sent his son so that we could actually touch him.
I know God knows what it's like to lose a child. He willingly sacrificed His own. He did it for all of us. It's worth telling people about. It's worth living for.
I've never met a man who has fervently given his whole life to Jesus come back and say, "I wish I would have lived for myself more."
There is one way to perfection, one way to holiness and fulfilled purpose. It's a faith in Jesus that is unmoved. There may be days of misstep, but never death of commitment to Him. I will continue to have faith in Christ. It's the only place that faith is righteous.
In a year focused on productivity, and a life focused on making a difference, faith in anything else is futile.
Faith in Jesus promises I'll see Ava fully whole again. Like the saints before me, I will serve the Lord my best each day. It's a great day for me to remember this...
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