The story you’re about to read is a testimony, my testimony, about something miraculous that happened in my life many years ago. There will be those of you who have known me during different seasons throughout my life, and may know full well the array of shades and hues that have colored my life. This story and expression of faith in God may come as a surprise to you, though perhaps not for some of you. I’ve wrestled with God the entirety of my adult life, specifically in concretizing my thoughts and beliefs about exactly what God is. The way in which I’ve lived my life is a direct reflection of this, I’ve drawn near and drawn away from God many times. There is one story, one experience, one miracle, that has grounded me in all of my wrestling and has been the anchor of my faith. I wish now to share it publicly.
July 4th, 2008. It’s a beautiful Independence Day in California. I’m 9 years old and beyond excited for what the day might have in store. My family and I were going to spend the holiday with another family we were quite close with at the time; They had children of their own that were about the same ages as me and my other siblings. We would be going to their beautiful home to barbecue and swim the day away. They had a very large backyard at their house, which is somewhat rare living where we were in California. They had a sizable above ground swimming pool, a trampoline, and a basketball court in different areas of the backyard. The first half of the day went as one might expect, filled with laughter and camaraderie.
Shortly after we had finished one round of eating, a group of us boys decided that we wanted to go jump on the trampoline together. It was my brother Solomon, their two boys Monty and Ozzy, and myself. We were jumping around and having a blast, when I heard a voice not like my own internal monologue inside of myself that said “get off the trampoline”. My stomach immediately twisted into knots at the sound of something so other, I was young and didn’t yet understand what was to occur. I wordlessly decided to get off the trampoline, and started to make my way back towards the house with the intention of telling my parents I wasn’t feeling well. On the walk back to the house I passed by the above ground pool, when I heard the sound of my youngest sister’s friend Remy wonderingly and innocently calling out my youngest sister’s name, “Ellie, Ellie, Ellie?”. I looked over and saw Remy treading water in the pool, my sister nowhere in sight. At the same moment, I saw my sister’s life jacket sitting on the ground near the base of the pool. I walked over to the pool not knowing what I might see. I can’t describe to you what I felt when I saw my sister lying still at the bottom of that pool, lifeless. The moment happened so quickly, in an instant I was diving into the pool and wrapping her up in my arms, I remember the weight of her body and struggling with everything I had to get her above the surface. When we surfaced I let out a desperate cry for help, and within moments all four parents rushed out to her aid.
She was cold, blue, and void of life. My mom began trying to resuscitate her despite the fact that she had no pulse. None of us knew how long she had been underwater, even to this day. As my mom continued to try and resuscitate her, the other mother Joy reached out her hand and began to pray fervently over my mom and sister; Pleading with God to save the life of my sister. For a split moment, her eyes opened before rolling back into her head. They began to call out her name, trying to call her back to us. The ambulance arrived and Ellie was rushed to the hospital. We came to find out that her lungs and blood were filled with water, and she was incapable of breathing on her own. She was in critical condition. However, there was something larger at work because about 28 hours after the incident she walked out of that hospital without any permanent injury, brain damage, or other long term effects from the incident.
Through all of my wrestling with God, this has been the experience that has grounded my faith over the course of my life. If I wouldn’t have heard that voice speak to me, my sister would have died that day and the trajectory of my life and my family’s lives would have been much different. And if it weren’t for the mercy that was poured out onto her and my family, she still may not have lived anyways or could’ve struggled with permanent brain damage the rest of her days. Instead, this experience has served to continue to impact my life to this day; In sharing this with others, it continues to propagate forward and impact the lives of others. Personally, It kept me within God’s grasp, even when I admittedly made sure that grasp was a loose one. I never could completely cast my faith away, the impact of God’s role in our lives that day was an undeniable experience that I couldn’t undermine even when I tried. Admittedly, defining my beliefs and faith is an ongoing struggle for me. However, God has certainly blessed and honored me regardless of that. Far more than I deserve, and certainly more than I could ever reciprocate.
Thank you for your time and attention, may the power that allowed this testimony to be grip you and bring you nearer.
Tides of the Enigma 