I'm so thankful that Loraine Kemp volunteered to share her story for my Book Launch. I'm taken aback by her testimony of God's mercy and steady guidance despite her diagnosis with cancer and the despair and anger that come from losing her brother to cancer. After you read her article, go to her artist Facebook page and be blessed by her beautiful illustrations. - Tina
Don’t Look Down!
by Loraine Kemp
by Loraine Kemp
Plumes of black
and gray smoke choked the hills surrounding our town. The firestorm of 2003
incinerated much of our forests and over 250 homes that lay in its path.
Afterward, I suffered from severe chronic asthma. I was infuriated with God.
Why had this happened?
But God was
hatching a wonderful plan for me, even though at the time it seemed like a
disaster.
Finally, after seven long years
when my health returned, I was able to slowly wean myself off the inhalers. However,
that’s when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was devastated.
I had no
fight left, which was why my husband declined an invitation to attend a men’s
golf weekend. I insisted that he go, but he insisted back that if he went, I
had to go too. I surprised both of us when I reluctantly agreed.
So there I
was, a preoccupied and depressed bartender and caddie for five guys on a
gorgeous golf course. At the signature golf hole, a canyon with a tiny green on
the other side, I sat watching and wishing I could play. After many balls had
careened into the gulley, the guys took pity on me and allowed me to hit.
My legs
shook as I stared down at my ball, thinking of the deep gorge ahead. What was I
doing? Did I really need more stress? But God’s soft voice broke through my
agitation.
“Loraine,
as in your cancer diagnosis, you can think of all the things that could go
wrong, or you could look for me. Don’t look down! I’m waiting for you across
the gorge.”
An enormous
shift in my faith had just happened¾calmness
flooded my being. With a loud ‘crack’ I hit the ball. Much to the guys’
chagrin, my ball sailed over the gorge and landed mere feet from the flag.
From that
moment on, I knew God was in charge. Through all my cancer treatments, I was
completely calm.
A few years
later, my brother was diagnosed with a much more serious cancer. Our family was
crushed to learn he only had about a month to live. During that time I told him
my golf experience and reminded him during every visit, don’t look down! He
embraced his faith so much that at a family gathering, the day before he died,
he shared our faith story and told everyone he was at peace. There wasn’t a dry
eye.
I was so
touched and inspired, I wrote a short story. It was called, of course, ‘Don’t
Look Down’ and was entered into a conference contest, Write Canada! 2013. I was
shocked and humbled when it won. http://www.thewordguild.com/2013-fresh-ink-winning-entries/
My God experience
was not meant for me only. That was obvious. Thousands have since read the
story. Of course, God wasn’t finished there.
The journey from anger and despair
to my present wonder in God’s loyalty was the seed for my novel Orion’s Sword. It too was entered into a
conference contest, American Christian Fiction Writer’s 2013 in Indianapolis.
My novel is aimed at mid-grade readers, but there was no children’s category. So
I entered into the YA category, only desiring the judges’ comments. However, I
was amazed to make it to the semi-finals, then to the finals. While at the
conference, I was stunned when my name was called out as the winner in front of
650 people at the awards Gala! I was the breathless winner of the Genesis 2013 contest!
Out of the
ashes of the fire and the turmoil of breast cancer, I’ve emerged, scarred and
battered, but stronger in my faith than ever. The gifts I’ve gained, God
expects me to use “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body
of Christ may be built up.” Ephesians 4: 12.
Are you also
going through turmoil? Hold on. God never wastes a hurt!
#2013 Genesis winner
No comments:
Post a Comment