Life Is A Vapor; Zac @ FUSE
Here is the video I was asked to help out with for NewSpring Church’s student ministry, which is called FUSE. This was part of a series called “Vapor.”
Brad Cooper, the Student Pastor, challenged the hundreds of students last night with a strong message of “begin with the end in mind.” He also highlighted the idea that we need to work for TODAY not SOMEDAY. The students were asked to write their future selves a letter. I, in contrast, wrote my past self a letter. They, as kids in middle school and high school, see themselves as near the beginning. I am possibly quite near the end. They wrote to themselves in six months; I wrote to myself at age seventeen. Here is the letter:
Props go to Adam Kring for his excellent video producing skills.
Hi, Zac-You don’t know me but that doesn’t really matter. I live in Springfield, Mo and have been following your blog for the last several weeks. I wanted you to know what an encouragement you have been to me. For the last 16 months, I have been going through a horrific divorce. My spouse of 13 years bought into a lie that Satan had been telling him—that he is a homosexual & that God made him that way. 16 months ago I learned that my spouse/friend/confidant/father of my children had committed infidelity numerous times throughout our marriage & that he had made the decision to leave his family for this lifestyle and another man. Since then & only by the GRACE of God because he holds me in his right hand I have survived & been able to simply ’stand’ in the midst of losing/letting go of my spouse, my home, my job, my security, my dreams, my future, my credit, time with my children, HIV testing, etc. God was/is there through my grief, confusion, anger, depression, anxiety, FEAR, & the INJUSTICE brought abt by my spouse & by the court system in MIssouri. I have watched my children suffer & my little girl develop anxiety & panic attacks as a result of all this. She is now in counseling. I am learning that I have to give them over to the Lord who loves them even more than I do. But………GOD IS STILL ON HIS THRONE & HE IS A GOOD A MERCIFUL FATHER. I have had many moments of asking “Where are you, Lord?” & “Why?” I don’t know the answer, yet & I may never know. I don’t know “Why” but I do know “HIM”. I had a great life before this, or I thought I did, but I wouldn’t go back—-I love the Lord more now than ever before & have realized that I NEED him desperately every day-without him, I have no good thing. He has a plan & a purpose for this. I don’t know why I felt the need to tell you this. I pray for you & your family. I praise God for using broken people to be an encouragement & to lift others up.
Amazing. God is using you and this situation and I’m so thankful you are allowing Him to do so. You are my hero. You inspire me. I love you.
Thanks, Whitney, for sharing your story.
I love you, too, Deesh.
-z
Z,
You have a lovely face and very kind eyes (I am thankful that each of the kids look at little bit like you). I wish to look into them often (I’m glad I get to). Watching this makes me proud of you and fall in love with you (again after 11 years, I keep finding way to fall in love with you more).
Love,
Your Secret Admirer
(okay it’s really Mandy)
Mandy,
You are my favorite.
-z
Zac, I am speechless. A very powerful message. I believe this concept will work for a 60 something year old, and I’m going to write my letter. You are an inspiration, the light that shines from deep within your eyes is undeniable. The love that comes from you glows and your words are penetrating.
God has certainly given you special talents. I appreciate that you are not only, not bitter about your situation, but are showing the glory of God. Only God has the power to give what you have.
Zac, my brother…
I cannot say in words how encouraged I am by what you shared, by the road you have chosen to walk. You are the aroma of Christ to this world my brother. How great is the delight of Jesus over you Zac…you are a gift and you always have been to your friends and to your beautiful family. The Bridegroom rejoices over His bride….He rejoices over you Zac…
I pray strength, peace and comfort to your heart and to your family….
Julie
Whitney, God does work in mysterious ways that us mortals may never understand how he came to his conclusions for us. You are just one of many who have suffered because of this lifestyle. May God the Father and his Jesus Christ bless you for all the many uplifting things you and your children stand in need of. You will be in my silent prayers.
Zac, as some others have commented, I just cannot put into words what your video has transmitted to me. It must give you great satisfaction to hear the comfort that your words have given to others. I look IN your eyes and think that these must truly be as the eyes of Jesus will look like. You can see and sense the deep sincerity, the kindness and the honesty of your words. I am honored and happy to have made your acquaintence in life. Sam C (Tracy’s father)
[...] – WOW! Do you have a sense of urgency? Take 5 minutes of your day and watch this video. [...]
Thanks, friends, for the kind words of encouragement.
Hi Zac….. Great video….a great reality check as I get ready to start teaching and thinking about being Jesus to my kids, parents, and other teachers at school. I often think I have all the time in the world, and I may not! We love you!
Brandon and Kristin
Recordado Zacarias.
Solo quiero que sepas que desde que nos enteramos de la situacion que estas viviendo, mi familia y yo hemos estado orando por ti.
Tu testimoniio es poderoso, gracias por tener la valentiia de compartirlo con mucha gente.
Dios te bendiga.
3 Juan 2
Jaime Velasco y familia.
Hi Zac,
You don’t know me but I had the pleasure of meeting your sister here in Quito before she headed home. She has told me a bit about you and the ordeal you are going through. She is also the one who pointed me to your blog and to this video in particular as she told me it is a life-changing experience to watch it. Well she couldn’t be more right about it…
I am not a cancer survivor but I have a lot of familly members and friends who have had to deal with this horrible disease, some who have passed on and others who have survived. It is a reality that is all around us and most times, we simply choose to ignore it for whatever reason we may have, be it guilt, sadness, remorse, regret or maybe even lack of understanding. But what the vast majority of us do is actually failing to grasp the essence of what our life on Earth is all about and we simply forget how to live it.
Through this brilliant video, you have actually reminded me (and probably the rest too) that we are not in control of our destiny but rather that we must live life at the fullest every single day and stop taking things for granted, especially the little ones.
You are definitely an example to follow and I pray that God will continue to give you that strength you carry with you as you continue down the path of battling this terrible disease. You have touched me in a way that is hard to express but rest assured, your message is definitely going across the internet and I’ll be sure to pass it on to friends and familly.
God bless you,
Giancarlo Giuliano
from Quito – Ecuador
Zac, What an inspiration your video was to me.I have had four members of my immediate family die of different kinds of cancer and feel vunerable.Your video gave me some much needed faith in God and his plan for us. I am not as afraid of the unknown as much as I was thanks to your courage and faith. God bless you zac, Joanie.