|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott Jones: |
|
Life has been good, and I am married to the most wonderful woman, have the most amazing daughter, have the greatest friends and church family, and most diverse and wonderful career. However, there have been some really difficult times that should have crushed me, but through my faith, I have been able to overcome many things, but the recent birth of my son tests and challenges my faith like nothing that has come before it. Life has really thrown some curve balls lately. On April 5th, my father-in-law passed away from cancer, burying him on Friday April 8th, the evening of which my wife (then pregnant) went into labor 3 weeks earlier than expected, giving birth to our son and 2nd child at 4 am Sunday April 10th. 4 hours after his birth, we were told he may have Down Syndrome, and we spent 2 more days in the hospital before being sent home. Those 2 days were among some my worst on this planet, and my wife and I are still reeling from the final genetic test results, diagnosing him with Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome). Our lives will never be the same. Our son will now have an uphill battle the rest of his life, my wife lost her father and had NO time to grieve before having to enter this challenging season of life. So........ Apparently he has a full 3rd copy of his 21st chromosome, causing Downs, but now at least we know for sure. Of course, we had hoped that the doctor’s initial concerns were wrong, but such is life. In addition, another genetic anomaly was discovered....the 17th chromosome has apprently split off, translocated and piggy-backed onto the 21st, along with the extra one that caused the Downs....we meet with a geneticist next Thursday to find out if this happened along with the initial 21st chromosome incident, or if my wife and I are carriers, meaning our daughter could also be a carrier, and should be checked. The best news, is that my boy’s heart is fine, which can be a real problem for some Downs kids. The initial shock was intense as we lost our original dream, and were forced into shifting everything in an instant. Although, my wife and I are just going to accept this change in our plan as an adjustment to God’s plan. I will soon teach my son to boast “I have more chromosomes than YOU!”, and simply nurture him into becoming the coolest, smartest “Downs dude” on the planet. As smart as my daughter is, I figure my son might actually be pretty exceptional, in spite of all. Before our son was born, before any of the fallout of Downs.....I found that the song by Switchfoot “I Dare You to Move” really sounded like a cool tune that might go with Taylor’s birth, but I could never reconcile the second verse until this past few days, when I realized that it artistically spoke to trial and hardship. Nonetheless, I want anyone who can go listen to the song to listen to it with this connection, as it has profoundly moved my wife and I. Ironic also, that my 2 1/2 year old daughter has requested Switchfoot in the car on a regular basis, (along with the Beatles, Planet X, John Williams, and Steve Vai). Anyway, here are the lyrics to save time, as far as the mp3 goes, I encourage you to find it and check it out. I DARE YOU TO MOVE -Switchfoot Welcome to the planet I dare you to move Welcome to the fallout I dare you to move Maybe redemption has stories to tell I dare you to move Now....all this is recent news, but life has been a bit of a challenge from my first day on Earth. I was born in 1966 with Hydrocephalous, a disorder of Cerebral Spinal Fluid Retention on the brain... In 1960's medicine, my chances were given to my parents as 50% chance of living, but retarded; or a mildly retarded and short-lived existence...both WITH the surgery, experimental at the time (most cases were not successful and often took up to 20 surgeries)...I shouldn't even be here... So, at six weeks: major brain surgery... The success of which baffled the doctors and they documented my case in the medical journals of the time... By the age of 3, I was reading at a first grade level; and later down the road, moved up a grade, to go on to graduate from high school one month after turning 17... During my childhood years, I found music to be a great source of joy and began dreaming of being a rock star... I began playing drums at the age of 8, after playing guitar for only 2 weeks and HATING it... So, I played drums for about 5 years, learning all of Rush to that point and Yes, ELP, and the like... I turned 14, and my parents divorced, sending me into an apartment with my mom, drums were no longer an option, so I picked up guitar again... Around the same time, I found smoking pot to be hugely interesting and took up that form of recreation for what went on to be about 8 years. Somehow, through the haze, I learned guitar, kept up with drums, picked up bass, taught myself music theory....and managed to remember most of it. In 1983, I became a Christian. I then struggled with quitting and starting pot over and over for those remaining years...finally quitting in 1988. From there, I pursued God and musical excellence with a passion. In 1990, I began playing guitar for my church in St. Louis, after a fellow musician had asked me to "sub" for him on guitar. The funny thing was that I had just been praying again that week, after a long time away from God. I had thought of returning to church, and had thought of going to Grace, as I had already attended in the past, for some time. I had also asked God specifically, to give me the chance at playing professionally, to be able to live on income only from playing music. This guitarist had only picked up the gig earlier in the week and found himself double-booked, only to call me at the last minute to fill in. I did not take this to be coincidence. I knew right away, that God had a plan, and I heard His Call. Immediately, I re-dedicated my life to Him after many years living for myself. This phone call and subbing "gig" is exactly what God used to bring me back to Him. Ironically, the long-time staff guitarist at Grace left within 6 months of my first weekend service, and had used me as his sub, many times to that point. When he left, I was his obvious replacement. In 1995, the Music Director at the time left to move back to Texas and recommended me as his replacement. I am still serving in this position, but don't misunderstand, it's not about position, or title, but of giving back to God, what He's given me, and being privileged to serve along side so many unbelievably talented and servant-hearted people. From 1992-1996, I taught guitar, bass, drums and theory to over 200 students privately... This was tempered by the trials of my personal life. I was married before and had been with my former wife for 9 years, but 4 years into the relationship, and 3 months after we were married, in December of 1992, she was diagnosed with cancer. Every day was a battle for her life. 33 radiation treatments, 6 months of chemotherapy, four surgeries later, she was left with the entire left side of her face paralyzed and lived with it in remission for 5 years. While she seemed to conquer the cancer for a time, it returned with a vengeance in 1996 (at this time I lived in the hospital with her for a month while she underwent every kind of test). The new cancer was tracking along cranial nerves and taking out one function at a time (swallowing disappeared and I fed her through a feeding tube for the last three months of her life; hearing; sight; etc...) until she ultimately succumbed in 1997. I was standing with her, watching her struggle...keep in mind she was totally deaf, I spoke to her that "it was O.K. to go, now" and with those words, she passed within 10 seconds...after a relentless final three months... I then, in one moment lost: my wife, my stepdaughter (then 14--helped raised her for 10 years-she went on to live with her biological Aunt and Uncle; she's now 18, and in college), my house, my dog... and I made the decision to give up all of what I would have gotten in the will, to my stepdaughter, to benefit her future… The only thing I can say pulled me through it was my faith in God. I never blamed God, my understanding is that He is not the author of pain. But I realized that the experience could teach me or break me, it was my choice. I decided to move on and learn from the daily suffering she and I had gone through. I made certain that I would make every second count. And my faith is a big part of who I am, as well as the trials... God's hand was certainly on my life. I know I would have been crushed otherwise. After a season of mourning and grieving my loss, I met my current wife, and after 2 years we were married... Our wedding ceremony had a full band with strings and 6 singers, the music for which I wrote; and all for free...!!! My daughter, Julianna, at 2 1/2 years of age, is amazing, and has been my oasis through the latest round of tribulation. She has been assessed at speaking and comprehending at a 5 year old level, and her heart is as big as her brain. She has been an amazing Big Sister to her baby brother, and I'm certain that both will change each other's lives. I am still a professional musician and have the opportunity to work with amazing musicians every week, write music every day...what a privileged life I have been given... I believe I have been allowed experiences and tests that I chose to grow through and become stronger...heightening my awareness of life's fragility and giving me an even stronger sense of purpose for doing what God wants to do with my life. Prayer Give your life to God, to Christ. Only He can restore your life, change your heart. He did mine. Any thing that separates us from God is called sin. It means we can't do it on our own. We can't do anything to get to God. So He sent His Son Jesus to die in our place. To take on the punishment for what separates us from God. He did it to build a bridge for us to be able to repent or turn away from the sin and back to God. None of us have ever lived a perfect life. Only Christ walked this earth without blemish. And His sacrifice on the Cross, finished the work for us. All that is asked of each of us is to willing give our lives to Him. Christ said, "I am the way the truth and the life, no one gets to the Father except through Me." No other figure in religious history has made that claim. Not to mention His resurrection. The miracles... To change your life, to finally have a hope that's eternal, pray this prayer: God, I know I'm not perfect, I've sinned, I have a need, a hole in my life that only You can fill. I'm sorry, please forgive me. I understand and believe that Christ was Your Son and died and rose again for me. The work is done. I can't get to You through my works but through Christ alone. Help me to desire only that which will lead me closer to You and help others in this life. Thank You, God. In Jesus name, amen. If you prayed this simple prayer from your heart, you have entered in to a personal relationship with Christ. Get a Bible, the NIV is a great translation, very easy to understand. Read the Gospel of John in the New Testament (the back of the Bible). Then get involved with other Christians and ask God to lead you to a church for consistent teaching and fellowship. Pray daily. For anything. It doesn't have be fancy Shakespearian English, just talk to Him, tell him how you feel. Bring your daily troubles and if you've stumbled, tell Him your sorry and get right back up. May God bless you and keep you in His care. |
|
|