After spending 18 hours in the ER, Wes was dreading going to dialysis. He called his dialysis nurse and doctor and tried to get permission not to go. Both strongly encouraged him to go, so he gave in and went at a 1pm as opposed to his 5:30am appointment.
We don’t know if the entire ER trip was just for the purpose of moving him to the 1pm slot but we have to question if that is part of what the Lord is doing. Here’s why:
With 30min left on the machine a new nurse named Ed, came to work on Wes for the first time. In a 5 minute conversation, he asked Wes, why he was on dialysis, about his family, and about his work. Wes shared the abbreviated version of what he had been through, talked about his family and shared that he does Leadership Development. After that, it was strange because this perfect stranger said, “I think I need your help. Maybe you could give me some pointers of some of the stuff you do at work.”
Wes then asked him if there was something specific he was going through that he would like to talk about.
Ed then basically said that he has a great family, job, and things are going well but he doesn’t have the umph, as he hit his palm with his fist. He then said, “I look at somebody like you who is going through this whole struggle and yet have a positive outlook on life. Things are going well for me but I don’t have that. I thought maybe some of the stuff you do at work could help me out.”
Wes then said, “Ed, what keeps me going through the trials is not so much about what I teach at work. It has everything to do with my faith. I don’t believe that the universe happened by accident. I believe that their is a creator God who loves us and has a purpose in all of this.”
Ed then said, “Oh, so then religion helps you?”
Wes smiled and said, “You and others might call it religion but it is not religion at all. There is a difference between religion and faith.”
Conversation only lasted a minute or so longer but Ed said that he wanted to continue talking because he knew there was something missing in his life. When Wes left dialysis Ed said he would like to talk further. Wes told him he would pray for him and Ed was thankful.
We don’t know what God is doing but we know that Ed, just like every person on the plant, is someone God loves and someone with which He wants a relationship. So would you pray with us for Ed? Also pray because Wes is wondering if he should change his dialysis time. At his current time, he will not see Ed. This is a tough call because it is inconvenient for Wes.
There are many people reading this website and we appreciate every one. We imagine, though, there are some readers who have never experienced the personal faith we describe here. We would like to extend a non threatening, non preachy invitation to anyone who might be curious about our faith. We would love to share with you about what we have found to be true in our lives. We would love to engage anybody in a conversation to share the difference between religion and a relationship with the Living God. There is a world of difference between the two and it has made all the difference in the world to us.
Wes,
You are definitely a blessing to those around you! Thank you for letting God always work in and through you to those around you. I have been blessed by your friendship and example. Through reading your posts about the goings on in your life, I have been encouraged to be more of the man that God has called me to in all my relationships and friendships. I appreciate you and your family!
Praying for you,
Trev
Hi Wes:
Thanks for the encouragement for which we are richer in many ways.
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” (2 Tim 4:2).
We look to the Lord together and praise Him to use you as His precious instrument to preach the Word to many “Ed”s to come to you way in so many healthy years have yet to come.
God bless, brother.
Always,
Margaret and Lem
Seoul, Korea
We pray and are concerned beyond words for you- but YOU are blessing us greatly with your courage and testimony-
WE LOVE you- God is doing something here and your testimony is a tower of strength to all of us- Keep up the reports …. and every detail has meaning- ….still on the road- I have 3 church messages to give this weekend- I will tell others of you and ask them to join in prayer-
Best- Jonathan
Praying for Ed…and you and your family…
“Should tribulation…?
Should anguish…?
Should famine…?
Nope…nothing separates us from His love…
You bets ya…we are more than conquering…
because we know Who is interceding for us…
(Romans 8)
Keep on conquering…
Wes and Karen, that is so wonderful to hear about your timely meeting with Ed. God made brought that about for His glory! so great to see and hear you living out your faith ! we will be praying for Ed and the decisions you need to make. keep pressin on and being ready to give a reason for your hope!
Heidi and Kevin
“Greater love hath no man than a man lay down his life for a friend.” Wes, your trials so far have led you to Ed. Everything that you have gone through has been so unexplainable yet God knows that He is working through you and your family. You have touched so many people’s lives. I will continue to pray for you but I will also be praying for those you touch. God is being glorified through your pain and trials. We love you so much. I continue to pray for healing and relief from all your going through. Thanks for being the wonderful man for God that you are.
Praising The Lord God Almighty, Make of the Universe….. I am so sorry that you are going through this; and through it are teaching me (and so many others). Nevertheless (my fav word from the Bible), questions that have traveled with me through the years are being answered through your struggles and messages. Praying fervently for you, your family and Ed. There must be a book or DVD we could learn from so you can heal!!!! Wes and Karen, you are blessed and blessings…..
Hi Wes and Karen, we are praying for you and Ed. GOD IS FAITHFUL!!!
great story even in your pain…praying for Ed to know the truth and take a ProD 🙂
There are tears in my eyes reading the confirmation that there is a purpose and godly plan in all that you are going through. You are a light in a dark world. Praying for continued courage to share your faith with others. Thank you for glorifying God through your pain and “inconvenient” interactions with those you come in contact with throughout this painful part of your journey.
I kept asking my self why God would allow my dad (your grandfather ) to suffer the way he did but after Dads’ experience meeting the young chinese doc and having the japanese doc working with him, I realized God had to have dad be in that circumstance for dad to have peace about the war he fought and see the results. God certainly has a different way about putting us where he wants us. Just think of all the people praying for you and all the hearts you have touched. Everyone reading this has been touched by both you and Karen’s faith and we are being blessed by it. A great big hug. Love ya
Looking back on my path to finding a personal relationship with the Lord, there was one person who made all the difference… Wes Coddington! From inviting me to your church, youth groups, lock-ins, camping trips and most importantly through Example. You showed me that just because you are a christian, doesn’t mean you can’t have fun in life. Only because of my faith, I was able to get through all my struggles in life. Thank you Wes for living your life the way God intended for all of us. You bless everyone who you are in contact with.
Praying for Ed, and I am at peace knowing he has met you.
There are many times in our lives that we find ourselves in inconvenient positions. For me, those are always the ones that are so evident of God’s hand.
I have tears in my eyes, excited about the appointment God had for Ed and Wes. He is so awesome!
Many prayers as you try to work out the details…but in the end, God will end up doing it for you.
Love Theresa