Stories from Houston Freedom Fest 2007

Bob (Thompson) and I were sitting on the far right and someone wheeled a young man in. He was all by himself and had such a solemn and sad expression on his face. When Alan Clark spoke about losing his two legs and feeling all alone, the gentleman in the wheel chair that I now know as Andrew started to cry. He would stop and look up at me and I would smile at him not knowing what else to do to comfort him. This went on through the heart wrenching stories and the glorious music. When it was over, Bob left to go speak with someone and he looked at me and said, "Can I speak with you?', "you have a kind face and I think I can talk to you". He began to tell me he came home in 2005 and he had wanted to come to something like this but was afraid, said he felt alone and scared. He had been shot five times and his friend was killed. He could stand for a few moments but could not walk nor could he use his left arm. I talked to him and told him I would pray for him and encouraged him to speak with the people at the booths. As much as I could feel compassion for him, I could not truly understand what he was going through like those there who were waiting to speak with him. I found someone to make sure he got where he needed to be and when I left the park, he was there among four people speaking with him, encouraging him and most of all, listening to him. The sight of that was priceless to me because as I said his name and goodbye, he smiled, something he probably hasn't done in a  long time.  

I have ridden the MS150 twice. It started out with me wanting to prove that I could do it, that I could ride the 184 miles to Austin without any sag wagons helping me along the way. Well, I did complete those two rides but it didn't take long during the first one to realize that I was not there for me, but I was there for all those who could not walk, who could not ride and who were so thankful for the little contribution that we were making. One sign on the side of the road said, two days of pain instead of a lifetime and it stuck. Yesterday, at the Houston Freedom Fest, it was a reminder that there are those in pain every single day but it is endured quietly, and privately. I saw the same pain in some of those faces and it changes your life, your heart. I kept my promise and I am praying for Andrew and I know God will bless him and he is using all of you to do that.   Just wanted you to know....     Sally Thompson

Two veterans were enjoying the day sitting out by the reflection pond. When Barbara Tucker started to sing "For the Things" they both had noticed that the flag on top of city hall was completely at rest. When she got to the chorus and sang straight from her soul “to God be the glory”, his friend leaned over and said “did you see that?!?” and the other turned and said “yeah, I did….” In that one split moment, the flag that once laid at complete rest had come to wave vigorously sending a message to everyone below that God was truly in this place! Once the song was over, the flag went limp and was at rest yet again.