Sean and I climb the stairs of what was once a silo. Over fifty years ago, my father, Ken Spafard, helped repurpose this drafty old barn into a place called The Love Inn- a dynamic powerhouse of ministry during the 1970’s Jesus revolution. One of the founders of the ministry, Scott Ross, shared about my father in his book:
One Saturday when I drove out there things seemed — I don’t know — better organized than usual. A group was laying pipes for the kitchen we needed now in the barn; another group was spreading gravel in the new parking area.
I parked next to a blue pickup and walked into Peg’s kitchen.
“Hi, Scott,” Peg said. “Remember how we’ve been needing a supervisor? Well, he’s out in the barn right now.”
“Yeah? Who’s that?”
“His name’s Ken,” she said. “Ken Spafard.”
I went to the barn. There was Ken Spafard showing two young men how to hold a saw. I took his roughened hand and introduced myself to him and his boy Eddie.
“Do you need anything built?” Ken Spafard asked.
“We sure do. We need some eating tables.”
So Ken went to work turning the old cow stalls into a dining area.1
Today Sean and I are singing praises in that repurposed barn. For our 28th wedding anniversary, we traveled to the place where my parents fell in love. How ironic that the place was called The Love Inn.
A committed group of Christians continue to worship at this place. The pastor invites us to explore the building, including the old prayer tower that still contains the original multi-color carpet samples. Money was scarce during the repurposing process and free carpet samples were used as an inexpensive way to carpet the building.
As I tour the structure, I think of my parents, Ken and Irene, serving Jesus together at The Love Inn. So much potential in both of them, Ken the builder and Irene the nurse. Both very passionate in their pursuit to make Christ known. Sadly, what could have been a dynamic duo for the Gospel ended in tragedy. See link for details:
Now, 55 years later, Sean and I stand in their place. Together we grab the baton of faith and continue to make Christ known-Sean the landscaper and Tina the writer.
Can you hear their shouts of joy as Ken and Irene cheer from heaven’s shore?
“Go Sean! Go Tina! You got this. Don’t give up!”
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, we grab each other’s hand and push forward to finish the race.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12: 1-3 NIV).
Prayer
Father God,
I grieve for my parents. I so wish they would have stayed married. I wish my mom did not have mental health struggles. Sometimes I wonder, “Why, God? Why did you not heal my mother? Why did you not heal my parents’ marriage? Why did you allow so much trauma in my life?” There is an awful ache in my soul- a sadness that lingers underneath my smile.
Here is my broken heart, Jesus. I can’t fix it. I ask for your healing touch in my life.
I choose to press on in spite of the pain. I choose to face my pain and walk through whatever therapy is necessary. Continue to give wisdom to our therapist, Paul Miller. Give grace to Sean and the rest of my family as we walk through this uncertain valley called trauma therapy.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
If you or a loved one needs help working through trauma, here are two people who can help:
Paul Miller MaMFT https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/777825
Reni Weixler MA, LPC, CPC Www.Weixlercounseling.com
Shout-out to my husband, Sean. Praising God for bringing this charming, long-haired surfer from LA into my life. Thank you for 28 years of adventures! Looking forward to making many more joy-filled memories together.
healinghope4women 