God's Scripted Plan
Meeting Jane E. Wolfe on January 05, 2007 was not mere happenstance. God scripted the winding paths of our lives and brought us together for such a time as this. I am a different person today because of all I learned and am still learning as I reflect back on her life and as I read her thoughts, comments and hand-written notes written throughout her well-worn Bibles and in her journal.
Jane was first and foremost a faithful servant of Christ. She did not just "happen" to be a devoted Christ-follower. Jane purposely surrendered her will to God's will over and over again throughout her entire life. She understood from a young age that she needed a Savior and she relied upon Him for her salvation and help. Jane was intellectually gifted; she was the Valedictorian of her senior class. Jane received many awards and accolades at her high school graduation ceremony, yet she understood her gifts and talents were God-given. During the family celebration held in her honor, Jane quietly slipped away to the privacy of her bedroom so she could kneel down and thank God for her accomplishments and to surrender her life and her accomplishments to His service. The surrendering of her heart, desires, and talents didn't stop there. Jane wrote in her journal about a time when she knelt down in the privacy of her bathroom (when she was well into her 80's), to once again surrender her will and her heart's desires to her heavenly Father's will for her life.
Jane purposely pursued her heavenly Father.
Jane's life was not without difficulties and hardship. Her mother died when she was barely out of her teens. Jane was the oldest child and became the "Mom" figure to not only her two younger sisters, but also to a little cousin who was orphaned through a tragic family circumstance and was taken in and adopted by Jane's family. At a time when Jane should have been able to pursue her own dreams, she instead stepped up and took responsibility for her sisters. She freely gave of herself and put her own desires aside to do what was right for others. After high school Jane took some business classes and worked as a secretary in a law office. Later in life, almost 20 years after finishing high school, Jane enrolled in college. She worked to pay her way through school and eventually earned a degree in English Literature. Jane was a leader and well respected by her peers. She excelled at many things and used her gifts to teach English, German, and Bible at several different schools in underprivileged Appalachia mountain areas.
But then ... disaster struck. Jane lost her ability to speak above a whisper and therefore lost her ability to teach and financially provide for herself; Jane's 20-year teaching career came to an abrupt end. Jane was alone with no other support. What was she going to do? When faced with the reality she was no longer going to be able to support herself through teaching, Jane came face to face with the dire seriousness of her situation. Alone and vulnerable, she prayed for God to be her Father and sought his help, guidance and protection for her future.
In God's Sovereignty, the plan to bring our winding paths together was put into motion.
It just so happened...
Jane remembered the faith ministry work of the World Missionary Press, an organization located in Indiana with the same passion and servant's heart as her own. Many years earlier, while visiting her sister who married and lived in Indiana, Jane had the opportunity to meet the founders of the World Missionary Press.
It just so happened...
Jane decided to write and inquire about any possible positions available at the World Missionary Press and whether they would hire her. The founder of WMP replied they did not have any paid staff positions available, but they did have housing they were willing to allow her to live in as a Resident Volunteer if she was interested.
It just so happened...
Jane made the move to Indiana. She lived in the provided housing and handled all the written correspondence with donors and missionaries. She was a gracious hostess and often entertained traveling missionaries and other dignitaries in her home. In spite of her voice limitations, Jane was able to live independently in the WMP provided housing for many years.
Jane's life was not without difficulties and hardship. Her mother died when she was barely out of her teens. Jane was the oldest child and became the "Mom" figure to not only her two younger sisters, but also to a little cousin who was orphaned through a tragic family circumstance and was taken in and adopted by Jane's family. At a time when Jane should have been able to pursue her own dreams, she instead stepped up and took responsibility for her sisters. She freely gave of herself and put her own desires aside to do what was right for others. After high school Jane took some business classes and worked as a secretary in a law office. Later in life, almost 20 years after finishing high school, Jane enrolled in college. She worked to pay her way through school and eventually earned a degree in English Literature. Jane was a leader and well respected by her peers. She excelled at many things and used her gifts to teach English, German, and Bible at several different schools in underprivileged Appalachia mountain areas.
But then ... disaster struck. Jane lost her ability to speak above a whisper and therefore lost her ability to teach and financially provide for herself; Jane's 20-year teaching career came to an abrupt end. Jane was alone with no other support. What was she going to do? When faced with the reality she was no longer going to be able to support herself through teaching, Jane came face to face with the dire seriousness of her situation. Alone and vulnerable, she prayed for God to be her Father and sought his help, guidance and protection for her future.
In God's Sovereignty, the plan to bring our winding paths together was put into motion.
It just so happened...
Jane remembered the faith ministry work of the World Missionary Press, an organization located in Indiana with the same passion and servant's heart as her own. Many years earlier, while visiting her sister who married and lived in Indiana, Jane had the opportunity to meet the founders of the World Missionary Press.
It just so happened...
Jane decided to write and inquire about any possible positions available at the World Missionary Press and whether they would hire her. The founder of WMP replied they did not have any paid staff positions available, but they did have housing they were willing to allow her to live in as a Resident Volunteer if she was interested.
It just so happened...
Jane made the move to Indiana. She lived in the provided housing and handled all the written correspondence with donors and missionaries. She was a gracious hostess and often entertained traveling missionaries and other dignitaries in her home. In spite of her voice limitations, Jane was able to live independently in the WMP provided housing for many years.
Jane knew what it meant to live her life "Walking by Faith." When you read Jane's personal journals you understand how much faith she had to live out. Her life was not easy. Jane had disappointments and faced many difficult situations throughout her lifetime. And now she is elderly; she is alone with no children or husband; her sister who lived in Indiana has passed away; Jane now lives in an area without extended family close by; she has no family to assist or care for her; she still cannot speak above a whisper; she is diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease; she knows her health is deteriorating; and she has no idea of what she is going to do. Alone—all alone. Realizing she was most likely going to need assistance in the near future, Jane asked a woman with whom she worked at World Missionary Press to become her Power of Attorney. She continued to live independently for a time, but after several car accidents it became apparent it was no longer safe for her to live alone and arrangements were made for Jane to enter a nursing home.
During Jane's first years in the nursing home she would participate in the weekly Bible studies held for the residents. But as her condition deteriorated, she was no longer able to do the things she loved. She was just there in the nursing home, barely existing. From outside appearances it appeared as if Jane's life held little value, just taking up space in an already crowded world. Her physical strength and her mobility—gone. Her accomplished and bright mind that brought her many academic honors—gone. But what was not gone was the true essence of who Jane was. Her Spirit (and HIS in her) was alive and well. Not just alive, but thriving.
When I look at the winding paths our lives took before we met for the first time in early 2007, I just shake my head in amazement. Jane's life begins in Pennsylvania, the daughter of a coal miner. Jane's mother dies at a young age and Jane helps raise her siblings after her mother's death. Jane is active in Billy Graham crusades. She organizes a letter writing campaign for the local men in the World War II. She lives within walking distance of the Appalachian Trail, loves hiking it, and organizes group hikes on the trail. In her forties Jane goes to college and earns a degree. She teaches in KY and several other states. Then disaster strikes and she loses her ability to speak and provide for herself. All alone and in a desperate situation, Jane moves to Indiana. She works at World Missionary Press. Then Jane's health fails, and she eventually ends up residing in a local nursing home.
I grow up in rural Indiana. I go with my family and the youth group of our church to the World Missionary Press to help put booklets together. I marry and my husband and I have two children. My life is fairly uneventful. We have a happy home, good friends, and we live a contented life. I too am an organizer; volunteer my time with various organizations; chair committees and serve on boards; love to hostess gatherings with family and friends; have a passion for teaching; and love hiking the Appalachian Trail. Our family experiences a few bumps along the road, but through it all our faith remained strong and the various difficulties we faced drew us closer to God.
Then our safe and comfortable world is shaken to the core. We are betrayed by people we love. Shocked and confused by what is happening, I know I am supposed to take my eyes off of what was happening to us and to GO and DO something for someone else.
It just so happened...
5 years prior to this crisis, my husband and I began going to a local nursing home every Christmas morning. Our daughter was living in Arizona and we celebrated Christmas with our son's family on Christmas Eve, so we just happened to decide to spread some joy to nursing home residents on Christmas morning.
It just so happened...
that of all the area nursing homes we could have chosen to go to, we chose to spend every Christmas morning at the same nursing home chosen for Jane.
It just so happened...
at about the same time we began to go to the nursing home I also got the totally random idea to hike the Appalachian Trail.
God knew what we didn't know. God knew that on January 4th and into the early morning hours of January 5th, my world as I knew it, was going to come crashing down. And in HIS loving providence, every single detail needed to bring Jane's path and my path together was perfectly in place and waiting for His divine appointment.
January 05, 2007 – It was time!
It was a Friday morning. I'd never been to the nursing home during a normal work week before. I was going to just walk in, but the woman at the front desk stopped me and asked me if she could help me. I told her I was just there to spend some time with the residents. She asked me to wait and speak with the Activity Director. While I waited, I was annoyed and irritated. I thought to myself—why should I have to wait to talk with someone? I've been coming here for years! Why can't I just walk the halls and visit with the residents? I stood there and waited ... irritated that I wasn't being allowed to freely walk the halls.
The Activity Director finally came. She introduced herself and we sat in the far corner of the cafeteria. She asked me why I was there, and the tears began to flow. I told her that I knew I looked a mess, but that I had just come through a very traumatic time and I felt I needed to get out and do something for someone else. Our personalities instantly connected and we freely talked together about life, faith, and God. After time passed, the Activity Director said, "Let's walk the halls and see where the Holy Spirit directs us."
God was putting HIS plan in place. HE knew what I didn't know—the Activity Director was going to be an integral part in accomplishing HIS plan—and I was irritated at having to wait. We began to walk the halls together. She took me down a hallway in a wing that in all the years my husband and I had been going to the nursing home, we had never been down before. We went into one room and chatted with the lady for a while but she was very grumpy and didn't want visitors. The Activity Director led me out of that patient's room and we walked on down the hallway a little farther. She stopped and said, "Now here is a godly woman. Her name is Jane. She doesn't have any family in the area."
God knew I would not have gone where He wanted me to go on my own so He arranged for someone to take me there—and I was annoyed at being forced to wait. I learned an important truth that day: If you are going to "wait on the Lord" you have to let go of your plans; give Him the space to lead; and then be willing to follow!
When my world came crashing down, Jane and I were each positioned exactly where God wanted us to be. God used something as random as our shared love for the Appalachian Trail to prove to me this was no mere happenstance event. What were the chances of an elderly person in a nursing home (in northern Indiana) randomly knowing anything about the Appalachian Trail let alone having grown up living just a short distance from it AND loving to hike it? Meeting Jane was not a coincidence. It was a God-ordained divine arrangement for a God-ordained divine purpose. God in His great Sovereignty, took the seemingly disastrous situations in both of our lives to close the door on our past stories and bring the winding paths of our lives together so a new story could be written. What appeared to be disastrous endings brought about the opportunity for a "New Beginning."
Jane and I did not just so happen to meet. Nothing along the winding paths of our lives just so happened. It was all scripted and part of God's greater plan.
During Jane's first years in the nursing home she would participate in the weekly Bible studies held for the residents. But as her condition deteriorated, she was no longer able to do the things she loved. She was just there in the nursing home, barely existing. From outside appearances it appeared as if Jane's life held little value, just taking up space in an already crowded world. Her physical strength and her mobility—gone. Her accomplished and bright mind that brought her many academic honors—gone. But what was not gone was the true essence of who Jane was. Her Spirit (and HIS in her) was alive and well. Not just alive, but thriving.
When I look at the winding paths our lives took before we met for the first time in early 2007, I just shake my head in amazement. Jane's life begins in Pennsylvania, the daughter of a coal miner. Jane's mother dies at a young age and Jane helps raise her siblings after her mother's death. Jane is active in Billy Graham crusades. She organizes a letter writing campaign for the local men in the World War II. She lives within walking distance of the Appalachian Trail, loves hiking it, and organizes group hikes on the trail. In her forties Jane goes to college and earns a degree. She teaches in KY and several other states. Then disaster strikes and she loses her ability to speak and provide for herself. All alone and in a desperate situation, Jane moves to Indiana. She works at World Missionary Press. Then Jane's health fails, and she eventually ends up residing in a local nursing home.
I grow up in rural Indiana. I go with my family and the youth group of our church to the World Missionary Press to help put booklets together. I marry and my husband and I have two children. My life is fairly uneventful. We have a happy home, good friends, and we live a contented life. I too am an organizer; volunteer my time with various organizations; chair committees and serve on boards; love to hostess gatherings with family and friends; have a passion for teaching; and love hiking the Appalachian Trail. Our family experiences a few bumps along the road, but through it all our faith remained strong and the various difficulties we faced drew us closer to God.
Then our safe and comfortable world is shaken to the core. We are betrayed by people we love. Shocked and confused by what is happening, I know I am supposed to take my eyes off of what was happening to us and to GO and DO something for someone else.
It just so happened...
5 years prior to this crisis, my husband and I began going to a local nursing home every Christmas morning. Our daughter was living in Arizona and we celebrated Christmas with our son's family on Christmas Eve, so we just happened to decide to spread some joy to nursing home residents on Christmas morning.
It just so happened...
that of all the area nursing homes we could have chosen to go to, we chose to spend every Christmas morning at the same nursing home chosen for Jane.
It just so happened...
at about the same time we began to go to the nursing home I also got the totally random idea to hike the Appalachian Trail.
How did I get the idea to hike the Appalachian Trail? It was the weirdest thing. I was going to be turning 50 and decided I ought to do something to make it stand out. Hmm ... what should I do? I came up with three things. 1) Go to college; 2) learn to play the guitar; and 3) hike the Appalachian Trail. Three odd and random things. Why would I want to go to college? There wasn't a thing I would change in my life. The only reason would be to prove to my Dad that I could. Dad and Mom paid for my older brother and sister to go to college. But when it was my turn, my Dad told me he wouldn't pay a dime to help me. He did not like what he felt college did to my siblings and he didn't want that to happen to me. I was hurt, but in the early '70's there weren't many options. My husband and I married soon after high school. If at the age of 50 the only reason to go to college is to prove to your Dad that you can, then something is sadly wrong in your life. So, option #1 was out. (BTW - I can honestly say thank you to my Dad now. His decision shaped my life and made me who I am today.) Next on the list was to learn to play the guitar. While it would be great to play, who was I kidding?? I don't have the patience it would require to learn how to play. So, option #2 was out. The only thing left on my list was #3. Hike the Appalachian Trail. Where on earth did that idea come from? I don't even know how I knew there was such a thing as the Appalachian Trail. I started researching the Appalachian Trail and loved the idea. I have a group of girlfriends (there are 5 of us) who have been friends since 1st grade. We always talked about doing something special for our 50th birthdays. I think they probably had something more conventional in mind, like making taking a cruise together? 😊 Instead, I said to them, "What do you think about hiking a section of the Appalachian Trail together?" And that is what we did. In 2004 we celebrated our 50th birthdays by hiking a section of the Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah National Park—the first of my many trips to hike sections of the Appalachian Trail.Unbeknownst to either Jane or myself, God was taking our winding paths and scripting a plan for the intersection of our lives. When Jane lost her voice, it appeared to be a disastrous turn of events, but it was actually God positioning Jane exactly where He wanted her to be. He had a mission for Jane to complete, and the mission was in Indiana. When our personal family circumstances changed and we were going to be alone on Christmas morning, God put it into our minds to spend the morning visiting residents in a nursing home. And not just any nursing home, but the exact same nursing home chosen for Jane.
God knew what we didn't know. God knew that on January 4th and into the early morning hours of January 5th, my world as I knew it, was going to come crashing down. And in HIS loving providence, every single detail needed to bring Jane's path and my path together was perfectly in place and waiting for His divine appointment.
January 05, 2007 – It was time!
It was a Friday morning. I'd never been to the nursing home during a normal work week before. I was going to just walk in, but the woman at the front desk stopped me and asked me if she could help me. I told her I was just there to spend some time with the residents. She asked me to wait and speak with the Activity Director. While I waited, I was annoyed and irritated. I thought to myself—why should I have to wait to talk with someone? I've been coming here for years! Why can't I just walk the halls and visit with the residents? I stood there and waited ... irritated that I wasn't being allowed to freely walk the halls.
The Activity Director finally came. She introduced herself and we sat in the far corner of the cafeteria. She asked me why I was there, and the tears began to flow. I told her that I knew I looked a mess, but that I had just come through a very traumatic time and I felt I needed to get out and do something for someone else. Our personalities instantly connected and we freely talked together about life, faith, and God. After time passed, the Activity Director said, "Let's walk the halls and see where the Holy Spirit directs us."
God was putting HIS plan in place. HE knew what I didn't know—the Activity Director was going to be an integral part in accomplishing HIS plan—and I was irritated at having to wait. We began to walk the halls together. She took me down a hallway in a wing that in all the years my husband and I had been going to the nursing home, we had never been down before. We went into one room and chatted with the lady for a while but she was very grumpy and didn't want visitors. The Activity Director led me out of that patient's room and we walked on down the hallway a little farther. She stopped and said, "Now here is a godly woman. Her name is Jane. She doesn't have any family in the area."
God knew I would not have gone where He wanted me to go on my own so He arranged for someone to take me there—and I was annoyed at being forced to wait. I learned an important truth that day: If you are going to "wait on the Lord" you have to let go of your plans; give Him the space to lead; and then be willing to follow!
When my world came crashing down, Jane and I were each positioned exactly where God wanted us to be. God used something as random as our shared love for the Appalachian Trail to prove to me this was no mere happenstance event. What were the chances of an elderly person in a nursing home (in northern Indiana) randomly knowing anything about the Appalachian Trail let alone having grown up living just a short distance from it AND loving to hike it? Meeting Jane was not a coincidence. It was a God-ordained divine arrangement for a God-ordained divine purpose. God in His great Sovereignty, took the seemingly disastrous situations in both of our lives to close the door on our past stories and bring the winding paths of our lives together so a new story could be written. What appeared to be disastrous endings brought about the opportunity for a "New Beginning."
Jane and I did not just so happen to meet. Nothing along the winding paths of our lives just so happened. It was all scripted and part of God's greater plan.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13It is humbling and gratifying to reflect back and realize that God has a perfect plan designed for each of our lives. Knowing God has a perfect plan grows our faith and brings peace and contentment, even in the midst of a storm. Thank you, Lord, for leading the winding paths of Jane's life and my life and bringing us together for such a time as this on that early January morning. Thank you, Lord, for allowing both of us to be part of this Blessed Event. I am forever grateful Lord; I am forever grateful.
*****
Jesus Led Me All the Way
Someday life's journey will be o'er
And I shall reach that distant shore
I'll sing while entering Heaven's door
Jesus led me all the way
Jesus led me all the way
Led me step by step each day
I will tell the saints and angels
As I lay my burdens down
Jesus led me all the way
If God should let me there review
The winding paths of earth I knew
It would be proven clear and true
Jesus led me all the way
Jesus led me all the way
Led me step by step each day
I will tell the saints and angels
As I lay my burdens down
Jesus led me all the way
And hither to my Lord has led
Today He guides each step I tread
And soon in Heaven it will be said
Jesus led me all the way
Jesus led me all the way
Led me step by step each dayI will tell the saints and angels
As I lay my burdens down
Jesus led me all the way
Listen to Jesus Led Me All the Way here.
Next Entry: For Such A Time As This
*****
A True Story of God's Faithfulness
The Amazing Story
The Sovereign Hand of God
Her Name Was Jane
HIS Story Begins
A God-Ordained Divine Appointment
Our Winding Paths
God's Scripted Plan
For Such A Time As This
HIS Greater Purpose
The Journey Home
One Last Promise
A Legacy Lives On
HIS Story Continues
A Story to Tell
It's All About HIM
Walking by Faith
It's All About the Journey
Following HIS Footpath
HIS Great Faithfulness
Jane's God-Given Words
God-Ordained and Holy Spirit Inspired
The Proof Came—AFTER
"You Are Free to Go"
The Path to Salvation
The Reward is Eternal Life
The Sovereign Hand of God
Her Name Was Jane
HIS Story Begins
A God-Ordained Divine Appointment
Our Winding Paths
God's Scripted Plan
For Such A Time As This
HIS Greater Purpose
The Journey Home
One Last Promise
A Legacy Lives On
HIS Story Continues
A Story to Tell
It's All About HIM
Walking by Faith
It's All About the Journey
Following HIS Footpath
HIS Great Faithfulness
Jane's God-Given Words
God-Ordained and Holy Spirit Inspired
The Proof Came—AFTER
"You Are Free to Go"
The Path to Salvation
The Reward is Eternal Life
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