This is an article my Dad (Garth Hunt) wrote in ANiC’s ‘First Friday of the Month Call to Prayer’ for June about giving thanks in the storm. I hope it speaks to you as it did me.
Giving Thanks in the Storm
I must begin this month’s meditation by asking for your indulgence as my writing has been profoundly influenced by the events surrounding Rhonda Glenn’s illness and subsequent going to be with the Lord. Quite frankly, prior to the day of Rhonda’s funeral, I had no idea what to share in the June Call to Prayer. The people of St. George’s, Burlington, have been through a month like no other we have ever experienced, as we have walked with the Glenn family through these painfully dark and emotionally draining days. It was difficult to focus on anything else for more than a few minutes. Some of you will have walked through seasons like these in your own parish life – you will understand what I am describing.
At the funeral reception held at Crossroads last Saturday afternoon, I was sharing these thoughts with a dear friend, whose wisdom and discernment I trust, and he suggested that I share with you all the provisions that the Lord has made in preparing us for these events; all the things that we are deeply grateful for in the midst of the storm; everything that has amply demonstrated that our Lord is alive and not asleep in the back of the boat. We have lots of unanswered questions, but there are many things that we can share of God’s amazing provision for us. He is indeed our Jehovah Jireh. So that’s what I will do. Subjective? Yes. But hopefully, this meditation will carry the essence of our experience of God’s faithfulness and be an encouragement for you as well.
As we look back over the past months, it is very evident that Rhonda’s illness did not catch the Lord by surprise. He had been putting a team of people in place at St. George’s that would enable our rector, Ray David, to be at his dear wife’s side throughout the entire ordeal. God had recently provided an experienced and able pastoral assistant, the Reverend Ken Bombay, to oversee the ongoing ministry aided by three honourary assistants. Shortly before Rhonda took ill, a new administrator, Gillian Fernie, had been chosen and she has been a tremendous support to the Glenns and the rest of the staff. Our new website, http://www.stgeorgesonline.com was launched literally the day after Rhonda was admitted to hospital and has been an amazing communication tool in the hands of the Lord, allowing us to share Ray David’s thoughts through this time, and providing us opportunity to pray together in the online “prayer room“. No, our God was not surprised, and we are so grateful to Him for setting in place the people and tools that we have needed to continue our ministry.
We give thanks to the Lord for the provision of Christ-like ANiC leaders who demonstrated deeply compassionate care for Ray David, Rhonda and their young son, Matthew, throughout this horrific month. Bishop Charlie Masters has been such a powerful channel of God’s love, ministering with the Glenns in the hospital room, sometimes until the wee hours of the morning. In his sermon at the funeral, he offered opportunity for any present to make a first-time commitment to Jesus or a recommitment to any who felt that they had strayed away from the Lord. This was just as Rhonda would have wanted it, and there has already been wonderful fruit. The care demonstrated by Archbishop Bob Duncan in coming up from Pittsburgh to celebrate communion at the funeral was another example of Episcopal oversight at its most gracious.
Ray David and Rhonda were deeply touched by the astonishing outpouring of love and prayers from people like you through the sending of emails, text messages, Facebook posts, comments on our church website, flowers and letters. There were literally 1000’s of expressions of compassion and prayer from all around the world. The Glenns, and indeed all of us at St. George’s, were profoundly moved by the Body of Christ in action. We are so grateful to the Lord for intercessors like you.
As a parish, we are so especially grateful to the Lord for our Rector – a man of deep passion, selfless vulnerability, and incredible courage. Ray David’s poignant daily blog posts allowed us to walk with them through the darkness of those days and to pray with the most up-to-date details available. But he did not stop with just an update – there were scriptures shared and challenges offered to strengthen us in our fear and weakness. RD, as we fondly call him, addressed the 800+ who gathered for the funeral service at Queensway Cathedral in Toronto. Through his tears and with breaking voice he exhorted us by saying, “Don’t you dare use Rhonda’s dying as an excuse to back away from Jesus. In our worst hour, when everything else was stripped away, we found that Jesus is enough”. Sunday morning, the day after the funeral, he posted on his Facebook page, “Ray David Glenn and Matthew are going to figure out how to do this”. By the grace of God, yes, they will. Please continue to pray for them in the working through of their profound pain and grief.
For several months now, Ray David has been closing his comments with a quote from a passage of scripture that has come to mean a great deal to him. Let me close these personal reflections on “giving thanks in the storm” with these words from II Thessalonians that are such an encouragement to us as we seek to serve Jesus going forward with renewed vigour and passion. May they be written on our hearts in order to carry us through, no matter what we are currently facing. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. I Thess. 5: 16-19 ESV
Garth V. Hunt
Garth,
Thank you so much for sharing those thoughts, especially with those of us that weren’t able to attend the visitation and the funeral. As much as Rhonda has meant to me, in my life, I will never forget the challenges that she issued, on a daily basis!!! Your insight and wisdom, only scratch the surface, of how deeply impacted I was, by Rhonda!!!