The graduation reminds me of a story that really must be told. It’s a nice story but, also, an exciting testimony to God’s power and the way in which He answers the prayers of the faithful.
After the graduation rehearsal, I went to the robing room to check that my Batman kit was all ready and correct, but I couldn’t find it. Rosie, the delightful American missionary lady who sorts all this stuff out is punctilious about these details, so I felt sure that there had not been a mistake. Was this a creative way of telling me I’d been fired? No, surely not. Besides, my funky hat was there with my name on its label. As I stood there, embrangled,* Rosie came to me and handed me a robe. “Kevin, this is YOUR robe”, she said. I could actually hear the bold capitals, but I didn’t understand their significance. “There’s a story attached”, Rosie continued.
This is the story.
When Rosie went to see the Academic Garb Lady (AGL—I still don’t know her name!), there was consternation. The AGL’s nephew was desperately ill, and the doctors had told the family to prepare for his impending death. Rosie, feeling bad for impinging upon their grief, concluded her business as quickly as she could and left. As she drove home, she felt a conviction that she should pray for the child; not just pray, but go back to the family and pray with them. Being the God-honouring and compassionate person that she is, she obediently turned her car round and went back to the premises of the AGL. Reticently, she asked if she could pray with them, and they welcomed her in. In the process of praying with, and counselling them, she told the story of Linny’s illness and death last year and how, despite prayers offered up around the world (well, almost—from New Zealand, westwards as far Seattle) for her healing, she had died; but that we have the blessed hope of meeting her again in the immediate presence of Jesus.
When the time came for Rosie to leave, the AGL said: “That man you told me about; I’d like to make him a personal robe [we usually just use hired ones] and donate it to him”. Rosie thanked her very much on my behalf and departed. Nothing more was said on subsequent visits, and Rosie felt that it would seem presumptuous to raise the subject, so she just waited. In November, when Rosie went to fetch the robes for the graduation, the AGL handed her a black and white bag and said: “This is the robe for the man whose wife died”. It is a standard pattern South African Master’s “toga” with fancy ruching+ on the shoulders, and it is made from a very nice cool fabric. I tried to take a picture of it, but black doesn’t show up very well, so I’ve thrown in my MA hood to lend the picture a bit of pizazz. By the way, the hood, apparently, was originally not intended so much to be a hood, as a pouch into which admiring (wealthy) fans would (hopefully) thrust money at the graduation ceremony. (My Big Fat Greek Graduation?)
But, that’s not the best news…
The nephew was miraculously healed! The AGL now visits various churches to testify to the healing power of God—the real God, not positive thinking, or Mother nature, or some such myth! Yahweh! The God Who heals.
I wrote the AGL a heartfelt letter of thanks, but I hope to meet her some time.
Once more, this kind of thing leaves me thinking… Although I am one academic robe the richer, I am still minus a beloved wife. This confronts me again with the question: why did God not answer our prayers for the healing of Linny?
I’m rather inclined to go with John Wimber’s belief that signs and wonders are intended—primarily—for unbelievers and those whose faith is weak. Although believers are sometimes miraculously healed, this is not guaranteed. Our ultimate healing lies in eternal life with our Creator (which I know Linny is experiencing right now, and for which I hope). “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21 ESV). In the end, I have to say that, although I cannot understand God, I trust Him absolutely. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then I shall know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV).
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*Embrangled: isn’t that a lovely word? I found it while browsing through volume one of my Shorter Oxford Dictionary (yes—I know—I’m a nerd) and felt determined to put it to instant use. It means “perplexed”. Enjoy!
+Ruching: I think that’s how you spell that word that sounds like “rooshing”. The spelling checker was unimpressed with it and suggested “rushing”.