Transplanted Perspective
For those of you who don’t know, in 2007 Regi was diagnosed with a degenerative lung disease. His disease progressed to the point of needing a lung transplant, which he was able to get last Monday at Emory Hospital in Atlanta. The road to recovery won’t be easy, but of course he is already learning things from the experience that he wants to share with all of us. Wouldn’t expect anything else . . .
In a couple of days, I’ll celebrate one week breathing with a new lung. A gift from someone I don’t know. Given from the end of their hope to the beginning of ours.
It seems to have gone about as well as it could. The lung is in. Healthy. The sewing . . . good and strong. Mechanically . . . it’s in good shape. Now the focus is on preventing infection and tricking my body into believing this foreign object belongs here permanently.
At a deeper level, the cost of this hope is more than I thought. Imagine a family sitting somewhere in a hospital being told their loved one’s hope for a normal life is over. Imagine the pressure of giving up hope and yielding it so others you don’t know can gain hope (from the liver, heart, kidneys and lungs) and sight from the corneas and other parts of the eyes.
I think about Jesus hanging on that Cross at three o’clock in the afternoon. Exhausted . . . excruciating pain. He took the ultimate step away from hope, into the abyss of darkness and separation from His Father so we could gain hope for redemption from death and eternal life.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). I can imagine giving up life and hope for people I know and love but it’s hard to imagine giving the gift of life and hope to people I don’t know. To total strangers.
Today my pastor taught us how to live generously. To help us see that everything we have comes from Him, recognizing ours is a stewardship, not an ownership. Whatever is put in our hand is ‘held lightly,’ received with gratitude . . . childlike surprise, then shared with selfless generosity and joy.
Earlier, my son (sitting in the hospital with me today) asked “What will you do differently now Dad? What’s this ‘transplanted perspective’ going to mean for you each day? Will you have a new plan?” My answer was simple to say, but hard to do. “I want to live more lovingly, being intentionally kind and loving to every person I meet.” . . . “And I want to live more generously, with less pressure, take more time to do fewer things and be in less of a hurry. My recovery will force this for awhile, but then it’ll likely get harder. Life will resume. The to-do list will come back.
Will I give love selflessly? Will Jesus live through me for others to see? Will I allow Jesus to shine His hope through me to those I mentor? Will they see someone who embodies Christ in a kind, compelling and generous way? I sure hope so. I don’t believe God has brought this about to leave me where I was. I think He wants more for me . . . to love me and use me in a greater way. I sure love being one of His sons and I sure appreciate all the expressions of love and your prayers for me this week. You can’t imagine how loved and blessed I’ve felt. Thank you for all of us.
Breathe New Life Into Your Discipleship
Small group mentoring can help you engage your people, build your core group of leaders, and transform your church. Our free resources equip you with all the tools you need to launch a sustainable mentoring program.
Responses (28)
Regi, you a true inspiration. We are praying for you and your family!
Regi I had no idea of your medical issues. May God be with you and help you to heal quickly. There are lots of us out here like me who need those inspirational posts you put out – we need you back badly. Be blessed & I will be praying for you, your family, and that new lung! 🙂
Alan
Regi, like Allen didn’t know of your health condition. Will commit to praying for you – a complete recovery. Want you to know you speak into my life on a regular basis – always looking forward to the next article. May God’s presence be so evident as you walk this stretch of journey in your life.
Have a BLESSED day!
Tim
Dear Regi,
Thanks so much for sharing what you are going through so we ( as mentors ) may lift you up in prayer. I cannot tell you how many times I have read your book “Mentor Like Jesus” – I with a couple of other women at church lead a women”s mentoring ministry and thank you for writing the book and sharing your men’s mentoring experiences. I am so humbled to see how Jesus uses all of us in our mentoring group and how the concept/principle of knowing how much we need each other and sharing our experiences. I look forward to hearing about your experiences that you have gleaned from your recent lung transplant.
Please know how much God loves you and is using you for His glory. The mentoring women at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Greensboro, NC are very grateful for your writing and sharing your book – “Mentor Like Jesus”
Praying for your recovery Regi.
Numbers 6: 24-26
Blessings,
Nikki Kober
Greensboro, NC
Regi, I didn’t know you had this condition; I’m grateful that you received a new lung and i’ll be praying for your complete recovery and full health. BTW, today I begin four days of teaching in four cities in the Northwest. I’m teaching a continuing education class for the pastors in our denomination on the subject of discipleship and mentoring. They asked me to teach what we are doing, which is Radical Mentoring. Your legacy is growing! I’m still personally leading three mentoring groups! Thanks and love you! Joe in Spokane
Regi…….will share this story with my prayer group so be expecting lots of healing prayers….you are a real inspiration to me and many others in our walk….thank you, God bless you and bring you back 100%
Regi,
Thank you for the post and the perspective. This was the first time I had thought of Christ’s gift from this viewpoint. Continue to pay it forward and breathe deeply. My family and I are praying for you and yours.
Neill
Praise God Regi and we have the whole team praying for you!
Love you Regi – thank you!
Praying for you Reggie. May the Holy Spirit comfort you and impart grace, wisdom, joy and thanks. You have mad such huge difference in so many lives. I send blessing for health and a great recovery, and I am sure a great recover and restoration story awaits. Blessings!
Can’t wait to see what God’s plans are for you. Wow, it must be something powerful to add years to your life!!
Thank you for sharing your life with us so we may be blessed by your steadfast faith. May your healing be as radical as your ministry and mentoring! God Bless You and your family through this process.
Reggie,
This was a great post. I know that I don’t just speak for myself when I say though your beginning years may have been more selfish, you have change the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, through NGM or RM. You have personally been responsible for establishing a program through which men are led to a more intentional relationship with Christ, their spouse, their kids, their money, and those they come into contact with at work or play. The amount of light that is being shown over you in this time through prayer is so bright that it must look like the sun from the Heavens. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and wish you a speedy and healthy recovery.
Regi, Charlie has kept many of us informed as to your progress. First, we are so happy to hear of the successful transplant and pray that your new lung will do its work for many years to come. God obviously wants you to continue your work helping so many grow our relationship with Jesus and to see what an active role we can all play in bringing God’s word to those we meet, those we love.
God has a plan for everyone affected by your donor’s death and his recipients’ life extending gifts. All I know is that having you with us is an extension of His plan and a gift. Thank you God!
Praying every day, love your post
What an inspiration my brother! My prayers are with you. I’m sending this to each man on our Men’s Mentoring Plus team at Mariners Church, Irvine CA. We have gained a lot of wisdom and insights related to being effective mentors from you and your fine website.
May God bless and keep you.
Mac
Regi,
I feel like you have always had a “transplanted perspective” that came from your heart transplant when Jesus entered it. I can’t wait to see your smiling face again soon.
Love, Brian
Praying for you my friend. So thankful you are doing well. God has big plans for you
Regi – you are in my prayers for everything God knows you will need in the coming days, weeks, months and yes… years. I’ve been a mentee and a mentor and in the journey have always looked forward to your insightful and inspirational blog. You are loved by thousands, including me, but even more… loved by the Creator who knows your every breath that needs his healing touch.
In Christ,
Jerry
Regi,
I am so thankful that you were a part of my life and that you will be pouring your God-given talent into more with this gift. Glad to hear you are recovering!
Regi
My prayers are with you for a speedy recovery.
“He’s back”!
Praise God!!!
Regi,
Been many years since we’ve seen each other…..although Ross keeps me updated on your family and life. So very thankful that you are doing well in your recovery. Hoping your health continues to strengthen and wishing you all the best that life has to offer. I still remember those old days in the Roswell Rec gym with you coaching our squad to victory! 🙂
Keith Benbenisty
Regi,
It is a privilege to be able to call you my friend for the past 19 years……and hopefully many more. The only downside is you constantly challenge me to be better,
sometimes with your words, but more so with the way you live your own life. Thanks for your example.
Love, Al
Wow! What a week! I can hardly put into words the incredible power of prayer that myself and our group have experienced this week! What absolute joy to be a part of Christ’s work up close and personal! As we have read each update that has been shared with our Life Compass Couples Group I have wept and knelt in awe of God’s goodness. What an example you are of Christ’s love and hope and strength. Know you have and continue to be prayed for without ceasing. We love you Regi and can’t wait to see you and hug you. You are such an inspiration and reminder of being more like Christ. Hugs, lots of love and prayers. See you soon dear friend. To God be the glory! We love you and Miriam with the love of the Lord! All our love, Cathy & Dave Xoxoxox ❤
Our whole office has been praying for you buddy! I’m fairly certain God isn’t done with you down here because this Radical Mentoring is changing too many lives. Thank you for your great inspiration and leadership. Now get well so you can get back to work. 😉
Love,
Brian
You’re in my prayers, my thoughts, and my heart. And I’m smiling.
Lance
[…] won’t begin to list all the stuff this old body’s been through. Of course, the biggest deal was my lung transplant in November 2015, which restored my vitality and extended my […]