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A Repurposed Life

Writer's picture: Sharon SherbondySharon Sherbondy

I loved it when we were invited to Nancy’s house. Because Nancy had a home unlike anything I had ever seen or, at that time, ever heard of. I couldn’t wait to find out what new item she had on her porch as well as in her living room and kitchen. Because Nancy had an incredible gift of repurposing furniture. Furniture that she found at resale shops, flea markets and even out on the curb for garbage pickup. An old headboard turned into a beautiful backing for a bench. An old dresser turned into a classic glass cabinet. An old desk drawer turned into a stunning coffee table. Through sanding, varnishing, and painting, Nancy turned something old and/or discarded into a breath-taking work of art.


I met Bob early on in his walk with Christ. He was so excited at becoming a follower and couldn’t wait to learn more, share more and do more. And I soon came to discover that that is just who Bob was in every part of his life. He was a man who was passionate about, well, everything. Training dogs, playing pool, riding his Harley, getting together with friends, loving on his kids and grandkids, and serving at church. Every day was an opportunity for Bob to love and serve others and to love and worship God. 


And then the unthinkable happened. Ten years ago while riding with his Harley ministry group, he hit a patch of gravel causing him to wreck his bike and his body to the point where it changed his whole world. Bob came home from the hospital in a wheelchair, having lost use of his legs and, not all but a fair amount of, his arm and hand movement.


Bob passed away this month. I was at his memorial service on Saturday and the place was filled. With people to whom Bob had had an impact. Not while he was walking and running from place to place and person to person, but after his accident.


His son,Tyler, shared with the crowd that after he was able to come home, Bob had to face the truth. He could no longer live as he once did. That life was over. So, what did Bob do? He decided to repurpose his life.


One of those ways in which he did this was to become a greeter at one of the church doors for Sunday services. But not just a greeter. He became THE greeter in a wheelchair that he would raise or lower depending on the height of people walking in. He knew them by name, laughed with them, encouraged them and prayed for them. Bob’s door became the place to enter and exit. So much so that lines formed before and after each service. Just so people could have an encounter with Bob.


I have not been able to stop thinking about Tyler’s description of his dad - how Bob repurposed his life. It’s extraordinary. And it’s caused me to look at this fear that has been lingering in the back of my head. “If and/or when I have to stop working in kids ministry at Heartland Church, what would I do?” Transitions aren’t new to me, but this time, it feels different. Because there’s been a “but” that’s been hanging around. And that “but” is my age. “Who would want to hire someone in their 70s? And what would I do?”


But Bob had to have asked himself a similar question. “How can I continue to serve and love my kids and grandkids and my church when I’m limited by this wheelchair?” And yet…God showed him his repurpose. The same would be true of Eva. This life-of-the-party girl suffered a traumatic brain injury and yet the impact on people’s lives has been above and beyond anything we could have imagined. 


So why the heck am I worried? I feel embarrassed for allowing these thoughts to linger and my faith in God to be questioned.


God didn’t abandon Bob or Eva and countless others nor will he abandon me. So I find myself, for the first time in a while, feeling free. Experiencing a spirit of anticipation as I wonder what God has planned for me next when my life changes. And it will. Bodies change. Brains change. Circumstances change. Abilities change. Passions change. But God does not. He is, as we know because of his son, the ultimate carpenter. An expert at sanding, varnishing and painting. Taking something that has been broken or damaged or just no longer needed and giving it new life. A fulfilled life. A repurposed life.

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Hello,

my name is Sharon Sherbondy.

Ever since I can remember, it's been most natural for me to process through writing. I've spent the last five decades writing just about everything! Scripts, Bible studies, teachings, and kids curriculum. And still? My mind is constantly full of more I want to process and share. So here we are! It's Monday, and I have thoughts...

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