In the final of three posts remembering Tom Carpenter, you will find both humor and humility in his last words, which stems from God’s grace and the personality He gave Tom.

For those of you who have ever been in a hospital for any extended period of time, you quickly learn that there is little opportunity for modesty. I have not worn a diaper for decades, but, regrettably, this has become part of my new normal routine, since my recent difficulties have overtaken me. I have learned to get over whatever humiliation this has caused me, however, in pretty short order, present circumstances dictate that this is my situation. I hope this will soon change. It’s funny, not really so funny, but I find myself asking God to just let me keep my diaper clean for a while. Right now I am involved in the titanic struggle to ward off the bedsore. If we try, we can find some humor even in difficult times.

However, I am also reminded that our Lord and Savior, before He was ultimately crucified was afforded no dignity and was humiliated in all kinds of ways. We all know the barbaric and inhumane acts that He was subjected to. He was not even regarded as a human being. He was stripped of everything. He wasn’t even afforded the ability to cover Himself. So whatever brief indignity I may be subject to, simply because I at the moment may not be able to take proper care of myself, is of no consequence.

When Christ was pushed, pulled and dragged to that place of sacrifice He had no dignity, no earthly dignity, but He did have the dignity of His Father and the Holy Spirit, and it was the supernatural dignity that covered Him and honored Him – even as He suffered and died naked on that horrific cross.

So whatever brief embarrassment or humility we may encounter in this life, (it is of no) consequence when we truly meditate on what Christ went through on our behalf.

May you all be richly blessed as I have been and continue to be.

What a Savior! What a God!

Tom’s race was over February 16, 2010, but his words still remind us that we should finish the race set before us, always looking to Christ. Hebrews 12:1-2 tells us:

…lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

If you missed the first two posts remembering Tom, you may find them here and here.