NO TIME TO SPARE

For today's script, how about an emergency run to the hospital? There are many of those in a preacher's life. In fact, this one is a late night run. Last night there was a call a little past midnight, and now about the same time another one. The patient had been swimming in a small lake in North Missouri. A miscalculation in water depth and a broken neck had sent Glen Guthrie to Research Hospital in Kansas City. The previous night I had made this trip and found the patient paralyzed from the neck down. Heavy weights attached to the skull kept the head immobile.


I had never net Glen. He was 28 and married. His wife and her sister-in-law had been with him constantly since his being brought to the hospital. On my first call Glen had been only partially clear in his mind and was anxious to make his peace with God. The special nurse was a lady I judged to be past middle age, and was concerned for her patient and didn't want him to be disturbed. However, Glen spoke out, and said, "Nurse, I'm trying to find God, and I want this preacher to help me." After that, she made no objection. After all, a dying man's request ought to have some bearing on the matter.


It was a race against time. I explained the way of salvation a plainly as I could. There was no time for theological discourse, just simple facts on the line, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins ....." No mention of particular sins, just the basic route, and Glen picked up courage and did his own simple praying. The victory was won, and peace came! All at once, the patient was calm and quiet.


Knowing that the two ladies had been at his bedside for such long hours, I suggested that they might like a break and reminded them that just across the street there was a place that stayed open 24 hours where they could find refreshment. (That was the Old Research Hospital located at 23rd and Holmes.)


I assured these ladies that I would stay at the patient's side until their return. Thus assured they went on their way. About that time, Glen began to pray for his children. Up to this time, I did not know that they had children. First, he named the oldest girl and prayed for her; then for the second girl, he gave her name and prayed for her. Lastly, he said, "And there's little Butch, he's just three," and having prayed for his little boy, he was done. All was quiet until the women returned.


About the time the ladies came back into the room, the pains came back upon him. Glen Guthrie had gotten saved in the last half hour of consciousness! He had stated, "My mother-in-law will be happy to get word that I got saved! I won't need those cigarettes anymore." There had been no mention of cigarettes or anything like that. And his very last words were in prayer for his children!


That's what I call getting in at the last hour!