I don’t remember how I became aware of Bill Sweeney’s blog. It was years ago. He wrote under the blog title, Unshakable Hope.
Bill was, as he said, healthy until he wasn’t. He was a businessman, husband and father. At age 36, he was diagnosed with ALS.
His doctors predicted he would be dead in 3-5 years. However, they knew nothing of God’s Plan. He was finally relieved of his earthly assignment and promoted to Heaven recently at age 60.
It was a life mission neither he nor his faithful wife ever signed up for, but one they both accepted with unwavering, unshakable Hope.
Bill slowly deteriorated over those many years, gradually losing every physical motor ability, except his ability to blink his eyes. He “wrote” through eye blinks to a computer. He was largely confined in his bedroom, but more so in his body.
However, his brain and spirit were wonderfully robust. He was a powerful light that shined even brighter with each crack in the outer shell. His Hope and encouragement were truly unshakable!
I looked forward to every blog. God brought me just the right words in multiple seasons of my life. And those words were “spoken” by a man who could no longer speak in the conventional way.
I never had the pleasure of meeting Bill Sweeney. But God connected us as He always does, through Himself.
I do not understand why some are struck with horrible diseases or why there is suffering in the world.
But through Bill’s writings, I have come to understand some sufferings are mission trips to the places God goes.
Being with Him in those places we might never have chosen to go allows our hard shells to be broken. As what we thought we controlled goes away, we learn surrender to The One Who controls all.
As we lose what we thought were ourselves, we find the real us, The Light of The World, inside us, waiting to be released into the world.
Bill undertook his assignment with grace and courage. He fulfilled it well to the last moments, when his chains fell off and his wonderful spirit soared.
He waited all those years on The Lord. And today The Lord has fulfilled His Promise.
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
I pray Mary and the rest of his family will see him dancing and praising God. I pray they will have Love, Joy and Peace … and alway, always, Unshakable Hope!
Here is the link to his blog.
Such a beautiful tribute, Carolyn. That was one of my dad’s favorite verses that he held on to all the years he suffered with ALS. “And today the Lord fulfilled His Promise.” Thank you for taking the time to write this! Love, Bill Sweeney’s elder daughter 🙂