Five Years Later...

A new journey begins

I will start with this praise – I received a kidney on January 24^th! It was Saturday morning at 9:30 am when I received the call. The fact that we were in the midst of a winter storm watch caused a bit of hesitation, but the report that this kidney was an exceptional match for me settled it. With a few tears, a lot of adrenaline, hastily packed bags and my son driving us through the snow, we made it to the transplant hospital ten minutes before the time we were due.

My health crisis began five years ago when the covid virus attacked my body, collapsed my lungs, inflamed my brain, severely damaged my kidneys, and brought me to death’s door. I was rushed to the hospital on January 25, 2021 – and five years later, by the end of the day on January 24, 2026, a new kidney was already reporting for duty.

Five years to the day.

This is the launch of another season of life for us, the beginning of a new journey. This is also the sixtieth blog I have written since I began back in 2023. In many of those blogs I made my way through the experience of crisis, something common for all of us. I asked questions of faith, expressed doubt at times, wondered at the silence of God when I most needed to hear a word from Him, and questioned what my place in this world was. If you are a regular reader of my writings, you probably sensed my working with one thing after another until… well, until a few months ago when I was not sure what to write anymore.

And yet a strange thing occurred. After writing about the matter of waiting in my last blog, I did just that. I waited, confident that, if I had something of significance to say, God would move me. And then, about three weeks ago, I wrote down these words, “Five Years Later.” I knew the five year anniversary of my covid hospitalization was coming, and I even attempted to write about that, but to no avail. And so one day I simply wrote those words on a Post-it, put it on my desk, and prayed, “Father, you let me know what comes next.” Now I know – a new journey is beginning in my life once again.

My new kidney began functioning as soon as it was surgically inserted into my body. Within a day my toxic numbers were diving, bringing my blood levels back into a normal range. By the time I was dismissed four days after the surgery, my body was acting as it had before covid was even a reality. I was feeling better, more internally calm, and especially hopeful for the days ahead. In all of this I thank God who has taken this journey with me, as have my wife and family who have traveled with me as well. I am grateful for the Bible study class I teach at church, fellow travelers who have prayed for me through this time and helped me regain a sense of purpose, a reason for being on this earth. I add you, my reader, to the list, for I am grateful that you have read my musings, encouraged me along the way, been cared for in your own crisis, and prayed for me.

I have been home now for two weeks, feeling a bit stronger each day. I am walking more than a mile a day, taking what seems like a ton of pills meant to keep my body from rejecting the foreign object within, and eating like I used to eat. Daily I record how much liquid I take in and how much comes out, with a goal of 3,000 ml a day. I travel to the clinic each week for labs, meetings with doctors, learning about next steps, and adjusting the medicine to keep the new kidney functioning well. It can all be so overwhelming, but it beats being hooked up to a dialysis machine that can only do so much to keep me well and alive.

Are there struggles? Yes, I have to be careful about everything. My immune system has been reduced to nothing, leaving me vulnerable to whatever is out there that might cause you a gentle cough but me pneumonia. Clean hands, masks when around others, meticulously taking my meds, and avoiding any gathering of people for the next three months is the name of the game for now. That last part is the most difficult – from the beginning the notion of having to be isolated as they coax my body into accepting a new kidney was the one thing that made me even hesitate getting a transplant. But at the same time, the new kidney offers me a much longer and healthier lifespan than I would have on dialysis. Patience needed… yeah, how good are you with that?

During these days my mind has gone back to an ancient prayer I learned years ago. If it sounds familiar, I have referred to it in other blogs. It is called the “Prayer of Saint Patrick,” and it captures the truth of Jesus’ presence with us always. Here are the words that stand out for me:

Christ be with me,

Christ within me,

Christ behind me,

Christ before me,

Christ beside me,

Christ to win me,

Christ to comfort and restore me,

Christ beneath me,

Christ above me,

Christ in quiet,

Christ in danger,

Christ in hearts of all that love me,

Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

This is a prayer that invites us to envision all of life wrapped up in Christ, with His presence with us always. Spend some time with that prayer – imagine what it would be like if your eyes were opened and you could see Jesus right there with you. Jesus in you, in front of you, behind you, beneath you, restoring you. This is a prayer that captures very much what I am feeling the need for – the journey ahead is filled with promise, but there are dangers as well, unknowns. I long for the Lord to be with me in all of this… to be ahead of me to lead the way, to guide me into next steps, to see open doors. Also, to have Jesus behind me, not only watching my back but giving me a nudge to keep me going, yes, that is most welcome. And always, of course, Christ within, bringing peace, offering courage, giving me strength.

This image of the ever-present God is also the theme of a Psalm I have been pondering, Psalm 139. Here are some of the verses that capture my attention in this new journey before me, from the New Living Translation: “O Lord, you have examined my heart (and my kidney as well!) and you know everything about me. You know when I sit down (fatigued, a bit doubtful, overwhelmed by the meds and road before me) or I stand up (with a strength I had lost with five years of dialysis). You know my thoughts even when I’m far way. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!”

This is the journey before me, a journey I do not take alone. Perhaps that is a word you need to hear at this particular time in your life. It may be that you are entering a new journey that is filled with heartaches and perils, or maybe you feel a bit lost on your journey. You need someone to guide you, nudge you along, give you some peace of mind. Have courage, have faith, call on the One who promises never to forsake you no matter how hard the journey has been.