A Normal Life

Rudy Capella: Pastor Green, I have seen you do miracles. I have seen you do things beyond belief with my own eyes. Pastor, I want a miracle. Pastor, I want a normal life. You know me. I have been in this church all my life. You know I was born crippled and lame. I never went past the fourth grade in school. My parents put me in a home when I was ten years old because they didn't want me. I stayed in the home until I was in my late twenties until the home was closed. Then I went to group homes. I never married because no woman wants a guy in the shape I am in. My life has been a mess. I want a normal life. I want to be normal. I want to re-live my life and be good or great in music, poetry, engineering, business, ministry, teaching, you take your pick, I just want to be normal.

Pastor Green: I will not lie to you Rudy. My heart breaks more than often when I see the struggles you have had to live with and live through. God did give me some gifts I have tried to use for His glory. But Rudy, your request…I don't know Rudy. I never tell anyone there are things God will not do or cannot do. God can do anything God wants to do. God can do the impossible then some. I will pray, Rudy. I will pray.

Rudy Capella: Pastor, I know I am being selfish. It's just that I can't take it anymore. I can't take being who I am and what I am anymore. Before I die I want to go back and start all over again and be normal. What's wrong with that, Pastor? What's wrong with that?

Pastor Green: There is nothing wrong with that, Rudy. Rudy, I want to tell you some things about your place in this church. I see you every Sunday come in here on your crutches or in your wheel chair. Rudy, you keep every member of this church humble and thankful. Of all the things I have done, of all the words I have spoken, of all the counseling I have done, I have never been able to make people humble or thankful. Just by your being here, you have changed lives. I know you get sick of being who you are. Any person would want a change from your hurt-filled life. But Rudy, God has used you, even when you did not know. God has used you more than He ever has used me.

Rudy Capella: I am tired. My soul is tired. I know I will probably be gone in less than twenty years. But before I go, I would like to be…

Pastor Green: Rudy, when you die, you will be better than normal. When you see God face to face, He will give you your heart's desire. What God will also do is give you a movie of your present life showing you all the lives and hearts you have touched. You have carried your burdens well. You have made other hearts fuller and richer because you lived. I know you get depressed and have even thought about ending it all. But Rudy, you are so important to the world. You have no idea. Sure, you could live a normal life, but would you have the same impact on the world you have had in this world? I can answer that and the answer is "No" you would not have the same impact on the world if you were normal. Most of the time, normal people get lost. Normal people are full of ego. Normal people are selfish. Normal people run over other people and could care less. I agree you are not normal. But Rudy, your heart and soul are above normal. You have lived a life closer to God than most normal people could even begin to know about. Your hurt and pain have made you more open to God's love and touch. When I read the Bible here in church, you know more about what the scripture really means than I do…all because of the heart you have. Rudy, the terrible curses of your life are blessings for God. I weep for you. God both weeps for you and rejoices because of you. God has so much compassion for you. God has so much glory, excitement, and happiness waiting for you. When you cross over, you new life will be so great your old life here on earth will be but a dim reflection. God will not just make up for what you have not had or lost. God will pile His love and spirit upon you in such an amount, there will be no end to your exhilaration.

Rudy Capella: I look forward to seeing Him. Maybe too much so. But my life in the here and now has been such a disaster. In so many ways, my life has been a total loss. The loss of my life kills everything I have in me.

Pastor Green: Rudy, what you think of as a total loss is a massive gain for God because of your faith in Him. I would agree your life has been a total loss if you were a person with little or no faith. But Rudy, you have never stopped pounding on heaven's door. You have held fast in your faith against monumental odds. Your life is a gleaming diamond in the eyes of Christ. I wish I could heal you, but so far. I cannot. I wish I could make a new life for you to walk into, but I cannot. However, you must keep you faith and keep it strong. What I cannot do for you, God can do infinitely more. Unfortunately, you nay need to wait until the Lord is ready for you to see His great and wondrous works before you. I have every confidence imaginable, the Lord God will give you the power you need to fulfill your mission in this life and in the life to come.

Rudy Capella: Thank you. Pastor, will you pray for me?

Pastor Green: Yes, Rudy. I pray for you every day. Let's pray together. Precious Lord Jesus, Wonderful God, Savior, and Friend. Bless Rudy. Bless all those who are under heavy afflictions. Soothe every hurt, comfort every loss. Inspire every heart crushed under the weight of life. Help Rudy and all the rest of us be a blessing to you and your work upon the Earth. Amen.

This story is fiction and appeared in February, 2010, in the Virtual Church web site at http://www.shepherdscare.net