Come As You Are

A new medical transportation driver in Tillamook County, Gary was warned that George was a very mean and angry passenger. A recovered drug addict, he required a trip from Nehalem to Tillamook three times a week for dialysis just to keep his drug-destroyed body alive. As is often the case, there was a trigger in his life that caused him to fall into his drug-infested life. He was once a well-paid professional tree-climber and foreman of a crew of about 12 other tree-climbers, frequently climbing 200 foot tall fir trees to the top to harvest fir cones for seedlings. He loved his job and his life. Unfortunately, he also loved to play with explosives, and one fateful day he had a tragic accident, blowing off his left hand and leaving just a stump where his hand once was. No longer able to climb trees, he lost his livelihood, and fell into depression and subsequent drug addiction.

As Gary drove to Nehalem to pick George up he was very anxious and unsettled about their first meeting. He even found himself hoping that George would not show up. He prayed that he would look at him through Jesus’ eyes, and that God would calm down his anxious nerves. As he met George he felt an instant connection. Where other drivers saw George as a difficult and unpleasant obligation, Gary saw George as a harmless, broken soul who just needed God’s touch in his life. He felt God impressing on his heart to show him God’s infinite love for wounded souls.

And love him he did. He wisely knew that he would not meet George’s spiritual needs without first showing compassion for his physical needs. Because George’s facility was closed when George left early in the morning for his dialysis, he had to stop at a gas station for a quick breakfast on the way to the hospital. Knowing he was on a very limited income, Gary bought George’s breakfasts. When he noticed his tattered sweats, he took him to a department store and bought him a couple new warm sweats. He noticed his worn, flimsy jacket and bought him a beautiful new Carhartt coat to keep him warm. He bought him new mittens to keep his hands warm. And from time to time he took him to the grocery store to restock his pantry. He did this simply because he loved him, knowing that George would very possibly never respond to God’s love.

“You’re different,” George often remarked. “Why do you do this for me?”

“Because I have the means, and because I love you, George,” Gary replied.

He always requested Gary when asking the dispatcher for rides. He loudly complained when drivers other than Gary picked him up. George would always break out into a big smile when he saw that Gary was the driver. They also spent time together outside of the medical rides. From time to time Gary would take him out to dinner. Several times he took him to his sister Crystal’s place because George loved being there. And slowly their relationship developed and George’s heart began to soften as Gary continued to love to him.

One day George noticed that Gary seemed agitated when he arrived to pick him up, and commented, “You look worried .“

“I am concerned for your soul, George,” Gary replied. He knew that his time with George was short since George would soon be moving to Medford where the medical care was better.

“What do you mean?” George asked.

Gary then shared the good news of the Gospel, that though we are all broken sinners God loved us enough to send His Son to die on the cross for us so that we could enjoy a new life and live with him forever.

“Why hasn’t anybody ever shared it to me this way?” George asked as tears ran down his face.

Realizing that they were running behind on their trip to the hospital, they got in the van and headed for Tillamook. Five miles down the road, as they were passing Nehalem Bay, George asked Gary to pull over so that they could pray. Gary pulled over to a spot overlooking the bay and led George in prayer. George reached over and placed his blown hand on top of Gary’s hand and asked Jesus to be his Savior.

Nehalem Bay, Where George Turned His Life Over to His Savior

Jesus once said that there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. One can only imagine the eruption of joy when George turned to God! Among those persons who would have been joyous in heaven were Gary’s parents. He had frequently asked his mother to pray for George before she passed on from this life. He told George to look for his parents if he died first.

“I won’t know who I’m looking for!” George exclaimed.

“Well maybe they will find you,” Gary replied.

A short time later George moved to Medford, and Gary only had limited phone contact with him. George finally decided that he had had enough of the painful dialysis, and stopped going for treatment. Not knowing about the changes in George yet, George’s sister, Crystal, called Gary, and as she was crying told Gary that George only had a short time left in this life and was told by her husband that this could be the last chance she had to share the good news about Jesus with him.

“Crystal, I should have shared this with you a while ago,” Gary replied as he told with her how George had turned to God. She wept for joy as she thanked Gary for loving her brother and told him that George loved him so much. A short time later Gary had a phone conversation with George. George told Gary that he loved him very much, and that he missed him. Three days later, on October 20, 2019, George died and entered into the presence of his Savior.

Several months later, as George and Crystal’s mother looked at Crystal’s pictures on her wall she saw a picture of George and Gary and asked, “Who is that man?” Crystal then told her mom the story of how George came to God through Gary’s ministry. “I want that too,” Crystal’s mom said. Crystal then led her mother in prayer as she also turned her life over to God.

Later that morning Crystal called Gary to tell him the news, “Gary, I have been talking with momma this morning and she just asked Jesus to be her Savior. Gary, you have made an everlasting imprint on my family’s life!” Six days later, on January 8, 2020, her mother also entered into the presence of her Savior!

These radical changes in a broken, empty family all began with a child of God, Crystal, desperately pleading with God to save her hurting family. God could have answered that prayer without anyone’s help, but as He usually does, He chose to answer it through one of His children. He chose to answer that prayer by bringing a devoted medical transportation driver into her brother’s life. And it was not as though George had never heard about God before. But he had rebuffed efforts by telling others that he did not want “that religion.” What he needed was to see “that religion” radically lived out as only someone wholly committed to God could. And that he did, through Gary.

Come out of sadness
From wherever you’ve been
Come broken hearted
Let rescue begin
Come find your mercy
Oh sinner come kneel
Earth has no sorrowThat heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are

There’s hope for the hopeless
And all those who’ve strayed
Come sit at the table
Come taste the grace
There’s rest for the weary
Rest that endures
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t cure

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home

You’re not too far
Lay down your hurt lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are
Fall in his arms
Come as you are
There’s joy for the morning
Oh sinner be still
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal

From “Come as You Are,” by David Crowder