Andrew Lisi
Andrew Lisi's Story
Summer Dreams Torn Away
I kept saying, this should never have happened to me. "What if I did this?" "What if I did that?" That was the lesson the Lord was teaching me.
I was heading back to Camp Laurel for my second straight summer. During the first I instructed canoeing and kayaking--not really my forte. This time I was teaching the thing I enjoyed most, basketball. I have played basketball my entire life and have never felt my height (5'7") to be a hinderance; it has always been a passion of mine. I had been at the camp for about 3 weeks working on the aesthetics when staff orientation day had finally arrived. Hundreds of new faces were prepared to be molded into mighty counselors. In an attempt to meet some of those new faces I did the thing that has always introduced me to people--I played some basketball. The first two games were a quick warmup for the battle that was going to be the third game. During the third game, a game in which our team was losing badly, I attempted to try and carry us to victory. Steaming up the court full throttle I went up for a layup, meeting much opposition. But as I jumped something strange happened--I felt and heard a pop in my knee. I crashed to the ground screaming, "Oh shoot! Crap! Dang!"
Nothing like this had ever happened to me before. The closest I got to breaking a bone was when I chipped my tooth as a kid. Now I had a torn ligament (ACL) that would require surgery and rehab! I did not know where to begin.
In that moment, as soon as I landed and finished screaming, I was wholely comforted. All the pain and fear went away. Inside my head the Lord was telling me "it's going to be all right." All I could feel was His soothing touch. I got up and said "I'm okay." I hobbled off the court knowing that whatever happened was what the Lord intended.
Unfortunately what happened was not what I wanted. I knew I was going to have to leave camp; I knew I had to forego the rest of my summer; I knew I would have to sit at home and make due with the time I had. But it was all painful. Having to sit in front of the director at the camp and say "I guess I have to go home" was so hard that I began to cry. The days before camp I would have to sit helplessly on the basketball court and watch everyone play basketball In all of it, though, the Lord was leading me on the path He had chosen. He wanted me to learn something from this; I just didn't know what it was at the time.
I was caught between my emotions and the Lord's intentions. I wanted to sulk and feel sorry for myself. I didn't really think anyone understood what I was going through. I kept saying, this should never have happened to me. "What if I did this?" "What if I did that?" That was the lesson the Lord was teaching me. I now know that things are going to happen in my life I may not want to happen. But some awesome things happened as a result of what I thought was a tragedy.
When I was on the ground in shock the Holy Spirit was felt so strongly within me. From the instant I was injured the Lord was with me. Everything I did after that was a result of his redemptive plan to lead me more into His light. Though the days were difficult, He carried me through them with a smile. I was able to make the most of my final week at the camp, enjoying some times that have become everlasting memories.
What has truly been amazing to see is the Lord's work over the past 6 months since the injury. I have become a new person. Through rehab and many hours reflecting on what had happened, the Lord taught me to let go of things I had taken for granted, He taught me a better work ethic, and most importantly He taught me to rely on Him fully.
Since then I have grown so much in Spirit. He has revealed to me part of His plan in my life. I am moving on to ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ (hopefully) and my Spirit has grown much more humble. Although much has changed, much has also stayed the same. The Lord has recently showed me that I still have much pride within me, mostly due to my perfectionist attitude. But because of this summer I know that no matter what unexpected thing happens to me the Lord will comfort me and lead me in the right direction--His direction.