Have you caught word of the powerful call to #prayforpaul over the last few weeks? I personally never actually met Paul Coakley, in all words he was a stranger to me, until I began to join thousands of others who were praying for a miracle for Paul and his family.
I heard about him through a friend, and I followed along with the many stories and pictures I heard and seen of him over the last month. I watched so many people rally around Paul, his wife Ann, and their children as he fought with all he had against cancer. Seeing all of the prayer support all over social media reminded me of the power of this tool to bring people together.
All of this has really caused me to reflect. I just cannot stop thinking about how a total stranger has had such an impact on my life. I wonder how one man can touched so many lives so powerfully in his suffering and death. I cannot even begin to imagine the loss his wife and children are going through. Why is this? How can a complete stranger leave such a mark on my soul?
And then a thought occurs to me.
The challenge and mission of living the Christian life is to ultimately (in all we do) point others to Jesus Christ. And from all the stories and pictures I have seen on Facebook over the last month, I clearly gather that is how Paul Coakley lived his life: a sign pointing others to Jesus.
Even in his suffering and death, Paul was still touching lives and pointing souls to Jesus. And I realize the reason why this man’s story has touched my life in praying for him: because to the core of my being that is what I want most, that my life will lead and point other people to Jesus.
Paul’s life is an example to all of us who want to live for Christ.
Paul, thank you for the privilege of praying for you; now please pray for all of us!
