Recognizing God's Plan
It began so long ago with a tragic event. Having a background he’ll tell you he isn’t proud of, Ron Schwerman was physically “blown up” in the Vietnam War. Ron (an E-4 Sergeant in the USAF) lost three limbs in an explosion and was given up for dead—his mangled body picked up and tossed on the pile of dead soldiers.
For whatever reason (God’s plan), a Navy corpsman walked by, picked him up and moved Ron from that pile of dead bodies onto the truck headed to the MASH unit. From there Ron was flown to Guam for the medical care necessary to get him to the point of being transported to Texas. When physically possible, he was flown to Texas for the long process of continued healing and rehabilitation. It was there God began the healing in his heart.
Ron had always wondered why that Navy corpsman moved his body off the pile. A happenstance (God’s plan) meeting about 30 years ago answered the open question. Ron’s first wife Judy was on her way to the military base when her car broke down on the side of the road. The one man who stopped to help her, and drive her to the base and back home-just happened to be the same Navy corpsman that moved Ron into the truck headed for the MASH unit in Vietnam. In asking the Navy corpsman the question, “Why?” the answer, Ron learned, was, “Something just told me I was to move you to the truck.”
God’s plan for Ron continued last Sunday at New Hope Church as he was suddenly approached by a woman who couldn’t stop hugging him. Being a Vietnam Vet and triple amputee, Ron is used to people extending God’s blessings when they see him after the service—but this was very different. It turns out the hugs were being shared by Elaine Carlson. Forty years ago, Elaine was the receiving nurse in Texas who worked with Ron to nurse him back to health.
Although Elaine (an Air Force Captain during the Vietnam War) had seen Ron another time at New Hope Church today was different. Today when she approached him from across the lobby she counted one, two, three-a triple amputee and she knew it had to be her patient. Ron was the one she and the team of nurses cared for and prayed over so long ago. As they reminisced with each other, Ron recognized Elaine as one of the pivotal servants to the path God provided to bring him into a close relationship with Christ as Savior.
Elaine shared her perspective. “When you arrived in Texas you were so very, very depressed. You were actually suicidal-but having lost three limbs you had no way of fulfilling that desire. Our whole team of nurses prayed for and over you time and time again.” Ron knew his parents had prayed for him during his time in Vietnam, but he had never before known the impact of the ministry of this team of nurses.
And he would never have learned this information if it had not been for meeting his wife Eydie, 9 years ago. Ron attends a Missouri Synod Luthern but occasionally attends New Hope Church with Eydie. Had he not fallen in love with and married Eydie, he would not have been at New Hope Church on Sunday, for Elaine and Ron to have this God planned sighting!
Elaine’s hugs on Sunday caused him to reflect on God’s plan in his life. If it hadn’t been for the explosion, the rescue from the corpsman, the care from the nurses and falling in love nine years ago—his relationship with Christ would probably be very different. Today Ron wears a cross around his neck every day, faithfully sharing his love for Christ with any and all who will listen-looking forward to recognizing God’s continued plan in his life.