My grandpa

​I remember when my Grandpa Distler, who pastored churches for over 40 years and ended his ministry as a superintendent of a rescue mission in California, was on his death bed. I flew out to spend a final few days with him. In one of our final conversations my Grandpa took my hand and led it over the numerous tumors on his body. He wanted me to have some sense of what he was dealing with.  I asked him if these large lumps were painful. He readily admitted the severity of the suffering he was enduring.  He then said these words to me.  I will never forget them.  He said, “Scott, for over 40 years I have preached Proverbs 3:5-6…‘Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.’  But for the first time in my life I really understand what that passage means!” Most of us who have grown up in the church learned those verses when we were quite young.  But I wonder if we will ever be able to really understand the meaning of those incredible words until we are staring serious, painful and perhaps terminal suffering right smack dab in the face.