Paul says to us in Ephesians, “I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” In this moment, for today, what is our calling and will we walk in it?
Evan has a choice to walk, in such a manner, as worthy of the calling to which he has been called. We are all called to something and that calling infiltrates every day of our lives.
How should we walk?
1. With humility and gentleness.
2. With patience.
3. Bearing with one another in love.
4. Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Our callings require us to walk every day in the image and reflection of Jesus.
Are we prideful, over-confident, demanding, braggadocios, a fraud of bravery, arrogant, or rude?
Humility is never thinking of ourselves as better than someone else, a down-to-earth attitude, hidden, meek and unassuming.
Are we harsh, brutal, agitated, disagreeable, callous, loud, impolite, or mean?
Gentleness is kind, tender, understanding, compassionate, amiable, pleasant, agreeable, warmhearted, peaceful and sensitive.
Are we irritable, agitated, lethargic, intolerant, or idle?
Patience is the capacity to endure pain and hardship without annoyance or anxiety, calm, even tempered, understanding, persevering and without complaint.
Bearing with one another in love is accepting our quirkiness, mistakes, frustrations, oddities, inconsistencies and shortcomings, and miraculously choosing to love anyway. To bear is to take on the burden, the pressure, and the weight of what we do not prefer from one another – to love.
As we walk in our callings we are eager to maintain unity. Unity is getting along, harmony, collaboration and oneness. Unity does not mean we are all the same, but a great effort and intentionality to find the common ground, a joining together of different parts to create wholeness.
Unity is a complexity, beautifully held together by peace. Peace is a state of order and security, calm, restful, quiet, a choosing to get along, friendship and love.
Imagine yourself in Evan’s shoes, battling brain cancer, not able to drive a vehicle, no longer able to go to work every day, completely dependant on your parents all the time, not able to use your left side, discouraged by your weight, exhausted all the time, lonely because friends are still busy with work, school and commitments of life, tired of watching television, trying to find the correct words, wanting forms of independence that are not yet possible.
How does he maintain humility and gentleness, patience, bear with everyone in love and maintain unity in the Spirit through the bond of peace?
Only Jesus!
No one is that “good!” We need Him showing off in us, helping us in our weakness, exposing our nasty, peeling off the yuck of our hearts and refining us into something beautiful.
Evan’s calling has exposed his heart, his motives, his attitudes, his desires. Everything is laid bare. Today he has the privilege to walk in a manner worthy of his calling as a child of the King.
When your calling is different than what you expected, more brutal, painful, unknown, the exposure is deeper and more refining. Pray for Evan and his family as they continue to walk in this calling, for this time. Pray for him to grow in humility and gentleness, demonstrate every form of patience, bear with everyone in love, and run after unity through the bond of peace. All these attributes begin at home, in the closed four walls of their den and kitchen, with his mom and dad in the middle of the night, with a loud child full of life, in the car for trips back and forth to the doctor, within the moments of wants that are not satisfied, and in spite of loneliness, fear and isolation.
Maybe your own calling feels so untimely, wrong, difficult and exposing. Jesus is with you. Do not be afraid. Press in to more of all these attributes of Jesus. Your calling has purpose. Walk in a manner worthy of your calling. Hold your head high. Keep taking one small step after another. Jesus is your strength, your help and your endurance. You cannot do this life on your own, but with Jesus, you can keep the course, not grow weary and not give up. Be vulnerable in your weakness. Press on with Jesus.
Ephesians 4:1-3 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Update from the Moon family:
Evan has been doing well during his chemotherapy. He has been blessed to not experience any nausea, but we have followed a strict medicine routine including the minimum anti nausea drug. He has been very tired from the treatments and his appetite decreases but he considers this “No problem. I am good.”
He is in constant battle with his allergies and is being treated now for a sinus infection. Hopefully it will end soon with winter weather coming.
He has been seeing a new doctor to help strengthen the left leg calf muscle and to try to correct the foot drop, which would help make walking less of a fall hazard.
The next MRI is December 12, TODAY, so please be in prayer that the results will be good. We are praying for his platelet count to be high enough for the next treatment and for the MRI to again be “stable with no sign of progression.”
As many of you know, Evan’s insurance policy is being discontinued in January. After multiple efforts to get answers from the insurance company, Evan’s brother Brian took over the search for us. With his help and everyone’s prayers we were able to apply for a policy and he was accepted last week! We thank everyone for their part in helping make this happen. The monthly premium is higher and the deductible will be more but he will have coverage.
Once again, through the Grace Klein Community our food has been restocked. Until you have been in this situation, you can not realize how much that means to us. There are so many things to coordinate and finance that having this blessing really makes a difference.
We want to add a special thank you to Scott. It seems Santa came early in the form of a very giving friend who took time from his family Thanksgiving week to bring us Evan’s car. He returned again that same week with food and Evan’s belongings from the community house. We are grateful to all who helped box the items and clothing and to Scott’s family for sharing him with us during the holiday.
Evan’s spirit remains strong and his faith assures him that God has a plan. Everyday he tries to push forward with walking and moving the left arm. The sermon he heard last Sunday really spoke to him. “You don’t have to fall apart when your plans fall apart! You can trust God.”
Thank you to everyone for the visits, food, calls, texts, and monetary support. Evan continues to fight this battle and wait patiently to learn God’s plan.”
If you feel God leading you to help support the Moon family with the unexpected expenses, here’s how you give:
Checks can be mailed to:
Grace Klein Community, Inc., 1678 Montgomery Hwy #104, Birmingham, AL 35216
OR via our website: gracekleincommunity.com/donate
Memo: Evan Moon Assistance Program
Moonbeam:
A friend shares a memory of Evan from when he was 16 years old…
“It was Mother’s Day. I was alone in a church I had never attended before without any of my family. During the welcome time, when everyone was hugging someone, Evan approached me and asked me if I was a mom. I told him I was and he said, “Then I’ll give you a hug!” When I told him I had four sons, he promptly replied, “Then I’ll give you three more hugs!” Naturally, I was almost in tears because of his thoughtfulness. I decided right then and there that if that church had produced such wonderful young people, it must be a place for me to be. I walked the isle and joined, and a few years later I became the church secretary and served for seven years. All because of 4 hugs from a very special young man. I wish him well and he is in my prayers daily.” – Dianne Schread