I could have cursed the world because of what was happening. However, I had prayed to know my God and my Lord Jesus Christ more intimately and more personally. It was (and is) a prayer of my heart. Jesus promises us that if we pray in his name, it will be done.
It is important that we know that when we pray in the name of Jesus we are to pray for God’s will and God’s purpose. Then we must trust and obey. There is no other way to be happy in Jesus.
Jesus promised the Spirit of truth would come to teach those who are prepared to receive God’s truth. The truth of our Father in heaven is grounded in the foundation of love.
Standing there in that parking lot, I felt the anguish, sorrow and the pain that Christ endured because he loved without condition. He asked for forgiveness for his tormentors. Nothing inflicted upon him overcame the heart of God’s love that was in him. It was in my broken heart that he revealed this love to me. I began to feel the unconditional love of God flow through me like a river. It is unexplainable and I know that you cannot experience it unless your heart has moved into the heart of God.
The Battle
I had called an attorney who had been recommended by an attorney friend to represent Sean in the upcoming court hearing. With time being short, we never managed to get together.
The morning of the hearing, I began to prepare for battle. I got in a quick workout just to get the blood flowing. I showered. I ate a light breakfast with coffee. It was a cold morning.
I put on tights and a body shirt for warmth and comfort. I put on a crisp white shirt and black slacks. My shoes were black and buffed. I wore a knee length wool jacket, and I adorned my neck with a camel hair scarf. As I went out the door, I put on my black leather gloves. At that time, I had a Marine Corps haircut. I dressed for intimidation and battle. As a Marine, I knew how to dress with the appearance of authority. I wanted my boy Sean’s representative to be sharp and intimidating.
I got to the courthouse early. I removed my pistol and other items that I could not take past the screening from my attaché. I entered the courtroom looking like a New York lawyer.
In the courtroom were the representatives of Family and Children’s Services along with a person who was to be Sean’s voice. It is important to note that I am not against these people; however, we have conflicting views about how Sean’s life was to be lived during this time of turmoil.
I went up and greeted the representatives of Family and Children’s Services. I knew the person who was to be Sean’s voice. However, there was yet another unseen person who would be Sean’s voice. I had prayed that the Spirit of truth would prevail and speak through me. Upon the greeting, it became apparent that my dress and my persona had its desired effect. I was not just some other person – I was Sean’s G-dad who prayed to the God of life.
It is quite amazing when the Holy Spirit is at work. As I looked around the courthouse, I saw the attorney with whom I had conversed over the phone.
Where was Sean while all of this was taking place? What was he thinking? By this time Sean was in his new daycare. It makes me think about the night that I met my wife, Maureen. The stage was being set on my end. I remember the conversation with Bob and what led up to me arriving at the Peacock Playhouse for a ballroom dancing class. What was happening on Maureen’s side of the stage?
What was happening was that the Holy Spirit was setting the stage to answer my prayer. It would turn out better than my prayer. Instead of just a woman in my life, I would meet the woman for my life. If you remember after my prayer for companionship, I suddenly found myself with a stranger (the stranger was the homeless man who I took in), my daughter and her two boys in my home. I did not know at the time; however, another stage was being set for me to have a deeper relationship with my Lord, my Christ.
Sean may have been in the daycare, but the Holy Spirit was at work on his behalf. I went up to the attorney and I asked if I could speak with him. We went out of the courtroom and found a place for a little privacy.