A Story Worth Reading

Every once in a while you hear a story that changes you. It affects the things you think about, the choices you make. It pulls you out of your own little existence and elevates your perspective. Every once in a while, you get a glimpse into another family’s life that is so intimate, so personal, that you feel like a voyeur—yet you can’t tear your eyes away. There’s something there so intriguing, so real, that you have to stick around to see how it all ends. Every once in a while you are so drawn to the story that you become a small part of it.

I’ve been touched by such a story the past 14 months. It’s the story of a 13-year-old boy with one of the rarest forms of cancer. It’s the story of a family of nine, and how they choose to walk this very personal journey publicly. More than anything, it’s the story of real faith in a real God in the midst of real crisis.

These are real people, a family I have grown to know and love in the past year. I’ve known David, the dad, for a decade, but this year I’ve gotten to know his wife Renee. In attempting to help them, we’ve been blessed to get to know their youngest son, who has become one of Braden’s closest friends. And about a month ago, I got to meet Ian, the star of this story.

The story came to a climax yesterday morning when Ian died. But a good story never ends with the climax. It ends with the epilogue, defined as “a short section at the end of a literary work, sometimes detailing the fate of its characters.” There’s no wondering about Ian’s fate. We know exactly where he is, and it is a very happy ending (“beginning” is a more accurate word). But God is still writing the story of the rest of this family. I invite you to join with the hundreds—thousands, maybe—who are following it. If you start from the beginning (clicking on the headline of this entry will take you to their Caring Bridge site), expect to spend at least a day reading. And expect to be changed.