The Interrupted Life IX – Life in the Balance by Eleanor Shepherd

         

 In a life filled with many interruptions, for my friend, Lauren the one that really knocked her off her feet, was when her husband Grant suffered a near fatal heart attack.  It was a frightening time for both of them. 

            At the time, they had recently been appointed as the pastors responsible for an English Salvation Army congregation in Montreal. Lauren was also trying to learn French, and was working on finding a rhythm in her new ministry venue.  

            Most of her dreams at that time were of furthering her education and developing her leadership skills in order to prepare for future opportunities. 

            In terms of her fears at the time, they centred around language in that she wondered how long she would remain in that posting and if she would be able to master French enough so that she could integrate it into her ministry which was mainly English and Spanish focused. French was the common language for those who spoke either English or Spanish and thus competence in that language would enable her to communicate with all.  

            In describing her faith at that time in her life, Lauren explained that she grew up with people of strong faith surrounding her. She made her own personal commitment to accept Jesus Christ as her Saviour and the Lord of her life when she was 10, at a Christmas candle lite service. Through her teen years she poured through the Scriptures. Then, as a married young adult, she recommitted her life to God and expressed her desire to serve Him. Her faith continued to strengthen and in her 30’s she was ordained and began her pastoral ministry. Her faith continued to be challenged and to grow through the years. By the time her life was interrupted by Grant’s heart attack her faith was strong and sustaining.      

            The event happened suddenly and was totally unexpected.  With no time to prepare for such an experience, Lauren found herself numbed my shock and yet somehow focused sharply on what was happening. 

            In the midst of the shock, Lauren felt that God was holding her very closely. When Grant came home from the hospital, for the first month, every night as he fell asleep she would curl up on the bed beside him and read though a devotional book on the names and attributes of God and pray. She chose to allow family, friends and the church family to come around the two of them and love them. 

            The whole family was impacted by the interruption.  Grant’s main focus had to be rehabilitation and recovery. Their young adult children were very supportive; Scott , their son, came to Montreal and cared for both of them. While he attended to Grant’s needs, by coaching him on procedures that needed to be done, he supported Lauren with his presence. He kept them both positive with his steady love and light-hearted spirit. 

            Leanne, their daughter, who could not come to Montreal, because of her own family responsibilities, stayed close at hand with her calls, texting and emails. She was wrapping a warm blanket of love and support around them from her home in the next province. During those first hours, Lauren felt that Leanne never left her side through the constant texting, which seemed able to get though every wall of the hospital, just when Lauren needed that reassurance. Family and close friends prayed, thereby offering their love and support from near and far. The church family to whom Grant and Lauren had been ministering totally encircled them and loved them, giving back what they had received. 

            This interruption caused Lauren to make some significant changes in her life, including incorporating a change of pace coming from a refreshed personal insight into her ministry, and her marriage as well as relationships with family and friends.The result was the intentional creation of a healthier balanced lifestyle. 

  

 

            Through this, she has learned how to clearly think through with new eyes, the ways to continue tohonethe balance in life, relationships and ministry. She chose to connect with a therapist in Montreal to walk through grief and loss issues that became overwhelming at times. As she shared this with Grant it became part of a good and helpful journey for them. 

      

            Though she would never have chosen to do it this way, Lauren has found that her faith has strengthened through this frightening interruption. She can now see things about God, in the Scriptures, in her family, in her ministry and in the lives around her that she never saw before. Today she is grateful for the way that God has spoken into her life through this deviation in her journey.

Word Guild Award
2018

Word Guild Award
2011

Word Guild Award
2009

Eleanor Shepherd from Pointe Claire, Quebec has more than 100 articles published in Canada, France, the U.S.A., Belgium, Switzerland and New Zealand. Thirty years with The Salvation Army in Canada and France including ministry in Africa, Europe, Haiti and the Caribbean furnished material for her Award winning book, More Questions than Answers, Sharing Faith by Listening as well as her Award winning stories in Hot Apple Cider and Christmas with Hot Apple Cider. She co-authored with her husband Glen the Bible Study book Why? Families. As well as writing, she conducts workshops on listening skills and prayer. Eleanor recently retired from being the pastor of an English speaking congregation in Montreal with The Salvation Army. She is currently pursuing studies to become a Prayer Companion.