6 Months. It’s been
183 days, 4,392 hours, 263,520 minutes, and 15,811,200 seconds since June 12th.
June 12th, 2014 will be a day that will stick in
my mind forever. June 12th
will be a day that I playback again and again.
June 12th is when my life forever changed as the life of my
dear friend and mentor Kevin Bruursema was knocked onto a very different
course. June 12th is when
Kevin was riding his scooter on his way, presumably, to the church that he had
been pastoring for the past 14 years.
June 12th is when his bright orange scooter was struck by a
car because of bad decisions made by the driver. June 12th is when Kevin went from
dreaming about what the next half-year would look like to being in a reality he
never saw coming.
6 Months. I was on my
way out of New Life Community Church West Lakeview that day. I was on my way to my other job as a Pharmacy
Technician. I had my bicycle in my hands
headed out the door to zoom over for my normal Thursday routine. But I heard a shout in the building and then
my phone rang. That’s when I heard the
news of the accident.
6 Months. It took
only a minute to process what was next, bike home, grab bike lock, go to
hospital. I’ve never biked faster in my
entire life. Running into the apartment,
heart racing, “Brooke Kevin’s been in an accident, no details, tell people to
pray.” Back on bike, pedals have to move
faster, Lord don’t let this be bad, Lord
let it be a miscommunication, Lord let me see Kevin laughing that I raced over,
Lord let it be ok.
6 Months. Lock up
bike, run into the ER, “I’m here to see Kevin Bruursema.” Silence…One second passes yet feels like an
eternity…”Umm hold on one second sir.”
“I’m sorry we are going to have to wait for his wife to get here before
we brief you.” Stomach drop…that’s not a
good sign. Praying. Praying. Praying.
6 Months. Others
arrive, rumors of what’s going on with Kevin are seeping out from hospital
staff. This isn’t looking good.
6 Months. More people
come, Gillian is taken upstairs to hear the truths on Kevin’s status. Surgery!
Brain Injury! Tears…
6 Months. The rest of
June 12th plays out with prayer gatherings in the hospital chapel,
updating those who are praying, picking kids up from school (how do you tell
children their father is in critical condition?), pizza in the hospital
hallway, and a successful surgery.
6 Months. Waiting in
line to get on the elevator. Doors
open. Get on. Surgical Intensive Care Unit Floor (home for the next couple months). Get
Off. Walk through doors and into the room. Silence.
Kevin lays motionless. Breathing
machine makes loud noises. Pain.
Why? Why him? Why a nice guy? Why a father of five? Why to a loving husband, a caring pastor, a
visionary leader…Why?
End of Day 1.
I’m writing this 6 months after day 1 and yet this Thursday
feels like a decade ago. I remember
every detail like it was yesterday but these past 6 months have been hard. Here is what I can tell you about the last 6
months. God is gracious in a tragic
time. God is a healer when doctors say
it won’t heal. God is caring when you
most need it. God’s will prepares you in
ways you never saw coming.
I’ve been thinking how to put the past 6 months in words and
I simply can’t. Through them Kevin has
gone from critical condition to talking, eating, and laughing. Through them my son Abraham went from not
being able to sit up to crawling, eating solid foods, and starting to stand. Through them I’ve gone from training to be a
Pastor to being a Pastor. Some have
asked me has it been hard filling the shoes of a great pastor? I answer the way my friend Jim told me on day
3, those aren’t your shoes to fill. So
I’m wearing my Clarks Dessert Boots and asking God to lead me day after day
after day. What’s been hard is seeing
someone I care for so deeply go through such a long road of recovery, but the
road IS leading to recovery.
6 Months-I’m waiting for 6 more to see how this story
progresses. I’m hopeful that at that
time Kevin will be writing his story.
6 Months-Through ups and downs, anger, sadness, happiness,
hurts and triumphs, one thing has remained consistent, God our father cares for
us and instills in us the power and the words to do his will. That’s how I’ve made it through these past 6
months. And I’m counting on Him to lead me through each next ‘6’ after this.
