Wed. June 27

When Greg gets to Heaven

 

One of my heroes, Greg Johnson. Dry Creek Camp June 2012

Greg Johnson is one of my friends.

He’s also a hero and mentor.  I’ve learned way more from Greg than I could ever teach him.

Greg lives in Union Hill and serves as a volunteer at Dry Creek Camp.  Greg was born with brain damage and is limited in many ways.

But he hasn’t the purest heart I know.  He understands and loves God in ways I never will.  That’s one of the many reasons I love being around him.   (Greg is the inpsiration for “Unk” in my novels,  Wayfaring Stranger and A Good Place.)

I was sitting by Greg in the Camp Tabernacle when the campers read a corporate prayer from the screen.  I could feel Greg’s frustration.  One of his greatest desires is to read the Bible.

I leaned over.  “Greg, when you get to Heaven, you’ll read better than any of us here.”

He nodded and flashed his sweet smile.

I firmly believe it.

Greg– and all of us– will be fully healed,  fully restored, broken relationships and hearts made whole.

It’s going to be a perfect place.  Greg Johnson will be reading from the Bible while he warms up during the first thousand years or so.

When we all get to heaven

What a day of rejoicing that will be

We’ll all see Jesus

We’ll sing and shout the victory.

Greg's prayer ministry

On Greg Johnson’s first day at Dry Creek (about eight years ago) he taught me a great lesson.

One of our summer teens, Tiffany, received a call that her grandfather had died.  The other summer staffers gathered around her in concern.  I stood apart wondering what I should do.

Greg pushed past me, into the crowd, and put his arm around Tiffany and prayed a simple heartfelt prayer.

What a lesson of compassionate action.

Thanks Greg for being my teacher.

 

 

 

2 comments

  1. Carolyn Simmons

    We met Greg at gospel singings and he is indeed an inspiration to all. And telling him about him being able to read when he gets to heaven made me think about my sister, who went to be with the Lord on June 3, 2012…She had Alhezimer’s and hadn’t been able to talk to us for several months. I hated loosing her, but knowing that she is with the Lord and not having all of her physical problems makes it much easier and knowing that we will be together again one day is the icing on the cake.

    And getting back to Greg, we see him at the camp when we happen to be there and gospel singings. Phil is always picking at him. I can see why he would be a hero and mentor to you and I bet you are his hero and mentor as well.

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