Wisdom Weaves a Tapestry

Thank you, Julia, for sharing such meaningful words about Wyndham’s life. Today, after a very difficult weekend with a sudden downward turn of health (though thankfully he’s significantly better today), I am particularly grateful for those whose threads run through my life…most especially Wyndham’s. Here are Julia’s beautiful words:

I think of a person’s life as a tapestry – people woven together over time and through experiences to create something beautiful and unique. When I consider the tapestry of my life I can see the threads of my parents, husband, children, and siblings. I see tragic relationships and heroic ones, too. There are best friends and enemies, some short threads, some very long.

Wyndham Shaw is a golden thread in the fabric of my life.  Sometimes he is prominent in the pattern and sometimes just a single hint of gold, but he is woven into the story of my life. Wyndham was the first minister I ever heard bring the Bible to life; I never heard anything like it. Once he got to know me better, Wyndham played ‘matchmaker’ to me and Gary Hannon.  When it looked like this relationship just might work, he married us.  He was my boss at HOPE worldwide New England and I saw him pretty frequently back then, leading with his heart and his convictions. He sat next to me as we flew to Romania and prayed for God to protect us and give us victory in bringing hope to the orphans of Bucharest.

The other passenger in the row (a stranger) was also grateful for the prayer.

Wyndham came to the hospital to pray over my newly born son. He supported me when I mentored his middle daughter – helping me to help her. These are the times in my fabric that the threads are more densely woven together, and you can see the pattern – glinting and strong.

Wyndham has always been an amazing example to me of a man who puts the most important things first; God and family and friends. He studied the Bible with my father over time and across much distance, and when my father’s health was failing (and he finally surrendered his will to God’s) Wyndham baptized my frail father in a trough in my living room. A few weeks later, Wyndham traveled across states (into Yankee territory no less) to help me bury my father.

While I do not consider myself among his closest circle, I count myself as so very blessed to be a witness to his strength and wisdom, and his living faith, ‘of greater worth than gold’ for these many years (27 as I count them).  Up close or from a distance, he is someone who has been a consistent example of living for Jesus; a friend, a big brother, a mentor, a boss, comforter, sufferer, a hero–and ultimately, I believe, a champion.  Julia Hannon

May God weave his love throughout our being, so that we can weave his love into the lives of others.

 I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God’s great mystery.
 All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else. And we’ve been shown the mystery!  (Colossians 2:2-3 MSG)