I have been blessed during the years of my ministry to connect with many great men and women of God. They have taught me so much about being faithful and faith-filled. Chapter 11 of Hebrews is an awe-inspiring list of people of great faith. It is apparent to me that the chapter has not yet been finished. The "cloud of witnesses" continues to grow every day as others demonstrate that kind of faith.
One such man is Paul Bruton, son of missionaries. Paul and I were a part of the leadership team at Bethany Bible College during the presidency of Richard Foth. When I think of my friend, Paul, I immediately remember his great love he had for God and for students. Paul filled a variety of roles at the college including campus pastor and dean of students.
Paul was a disciplined man who was known for his early morning runs. He was strong, vigorous, and physically fit . . . until he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Paul was in the prime of life and now faced the disastrous effects of this debilitating disease. Paul, being the strong silent type, did not talk much about it nor shared his condition.
Glenda and I remember so clearly a "donkey basketball" game in which the faculty played a group of students. Paul struggled to stay on the donkey due to the lack of feeling and sensitivity of his legs. Many of the spectators did not know the story and so were somewhat obnoxious in teasing Paul. Glenda and I were so grieved in our hearts to see him struggle.
The amazing thing for me was the fact that Paul continued to run for many months WITHOUT being able to have any sensations in his lower body. Hebrews 12: 1 says, ". . . let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
That was Paul! It was a sad moment when I heard the news that Paul had stepped from this world into the next. His race was over! He had run with all his might toward the end of the course and has received his winner's crown. We saw his dear wife, Leta, two years ago and shared our thoughts with her.
Wow, sometimes I am such a weakling and a sissy. It is amazing the small and insignificant things that we can let get in our way of running the race. The joy is not in the running of the race; it is in the completion of the course, my course, the one that my God has laid out for me. Here are some reflective questions to ask.
- Do I know with great certainty what my course is?
- If not, how can I find it?
- How tough am I?
- What are the typically things, hindrances, or sins do I allow to divert me from my race?
- Who knows about my struggles?
- Who will be influenced to make the ultimate decisions of faith because I am running and running well?
Get your running shoes on and go for it!
1 comment:
Hi Paul, not sure if you still check this blog or posts, but I was doing a search on Paul Bruton and came upon this. It brought tears to my eyes as I remembered him fondly. I actually remember that basketball game. Paul was a dear friend and did our premarital counseling. Diane and I often bring up some of his wise comments. You nailed it correctly when you bring him up as an example of a godly man. I miss him.
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