The Tao of Me

After a drive to Beaumont after work on Monday, I passed Isaac’s Rock on to Cara. She is an internet friend, who is now another real life friend, who is going to carry on the journey.

Here’s your challenge. Sell one thing on Craig’s list, or Ebay, or at a garage sale, or wherever. Send the money to Isaac and his family through Lovejustis.org.

We have a garge full of stuff that just came out of storage. Skis, and extra washer and dryer, an old corner shelf, etc. Junk we don’t need and don’t want that is just stuff. Some of it was donated to us by Josh, Larry and Chelsea for Isaac. We listed it all on Craig’s list, sold about half of it and are sending the money on Monday. It was easy, and they need it.

Can you sell one thing? For the love of a family you may not know?

I have put up a few new pictures on Flickr for Isaac’s Rock.

Go check it out, and please visit www.lovejustis.org. See the Lehr’s page (link on the left side of their page. They really need our help.

When I was in high school, I had a friend who was a genuinely caring guy. He would have done anything to help someone he cared about, and probably just as much for people he didn’t know. He was my friend and I had no idea what a gift that was. I wish I had taken that friendship more seriously and kept in touch better.

Now that we’ve moved around so much, and left so many people behind, I’ve learned to see those rare those people are. Now I know the value of such friends.

We spent more time in Austin last weekend. We love Austin, and the more time we spend there the more we talk about how much we want to just move there. The thing is, while the city itself is very cool, I know what we love the most is not the place. What we love the most is the little community of friends who have become important to us.

Greg and Jen started the whole thing. They were, and continue to be and inspiration to us and to so many other people. Because of them we’ve been introduced to the other wonderful new friends we have there. Jim and Cindy, Salem and Brye, and Isaac and Johnna. We were able to all spend some time together this weekend and I’m so glad.

We are all so different. We all came from different circumstances and all have different beliefs, but we all came to a similar love for our families that lets us connect in a way that I know is rare. Simply put, we love them all.

Thank you guys for just being you. Knowing you’re out there in the world makes it a better place.

And, Brad. If you read this and happen to remember me, thank you for being my friend all those years ago.

A message from our friends, Brye and Salem Mcbee:

Dear ones,
I am writing to inform you all of some circumstances surrounding the Isaac Lehr family right now and to ask for your help. As you may know, Isaac has recently undergone surgery to remove tumors in his lymph system that have revealed the presence of cancerous cells in his body. In short, Isaac and his family are beginning a battle with cancer.

On January 9th Isaac had surgery to remove a growth on his shoulder and on March 21st had five cancerous tumors removed from under his armpit on the same side. A CT scan has revealed a “suspicious” object in his chest and because of the presence of cancer in his lymph nodes, there is a threat of more cancer showing up. As you probably know, Isaac is not a man to be threatened.

According to the medical professionals, this is a very bad situation. According to Isaac, this is an opportunity for God to be known. If you know Isaac at all, you can imagine how hard it is for him to be in a place of need. He is a strong man able to take care of his own…and right now, he is in great need.

Isaac and Johnna have, at our request, humbly shared some of their needs with us. As a father myself, I can only start to imagine how hard this must be for them to have the humility it takes to ask others for help… We know that in honor of the Lord, Isaac has made his wife and kids priority in his life. Isaac has always done everything a man could do to provide for his family. Not only with food and shelter, but also by his presence in their lives giving them assurance that he loves them and considers them his most precious. The Lehr’s have sown seeds into their kids, into their community, their churches, their friends, and their family. It is my firm belief that it is time for a harvest for that family.

Some of you may know us. We are Brye and Salem McBee of the Clan Brees. We have been friends with Isaac and Johnna for many years and have come to form a kinship with them that is nothing less than a divine work of God. We love them very deeply and are committed to standing with them. About three years ago, after our eldest son died, we formed a non-profit (tax deductible) organization in his name to assist families who are in need during illness or disability. We are honored to be able to coordinate assistance for the Lehr family and also to be a point of contact for you to keep up with their circumstances. Please keep our website marked so you can stay updated and/or make contributions to them as you feel moved to do so. Also, Isaac has started a blog (an internet journal) that you can use to stay updated on the happenings of their family. This can be acessed by going to our website and clicking on the Lehr family page.

Based on their current need we are looking for individuals, families, churches and businesses to financially assist them. There are two specific needs we have identified. One is the need to raise funds for his healthcare treatments. The other is to request of those who feel called to do so, to make a one year commitment to contributing to the Lehr family to help with their monthly expenses. Like I said before, I believe there is a harvest available to the Lehr family. If you feel you can or want to be involved in helping carry this burden with this family, please contact us and/or make your contributions via mail or our website http://www.lovejustis.org.

Your donations will be used to directly assist the Lehr family in paying for their immediate healthcare expenses and also providing gift cards and other resources that can be used for meals, groceries, etc. We need to make sure this family we all love knows they will not walk through this alone. Our prayer is that as God heals Isaac, we (all of us lovers of the Lehr family) have the opportunity to be an example of how God’s people gather around when one of us is hurting. How a real community and family respond when one is in need. Please consider joining us in that stand and please also feel free to let us know if you have other resources that might be of assistance to them.

God is covering this family. We ask you to financially contribute what you can and consider a monthly commitment. More importantly, we ask you to join us in prayer for the Lehr family. Prayer that the God who created Isaac body would work a healing miracle in that same body. That just as God has always done for Isaac in other areas of his life, He would place the very best counselors, advisors and resources in his life that he needs right now. And most, that the almighty God who loves Isaac more than all of us put together would have His way, and that He will be glorified in this.

Brye & Salem McBee
http://www.lovejustis.org\

1119 S Mission Rd. Suite 324
Fallbrook, CA 92028

(760) 494-3584

PS – We have begun this with a very limited mailing list. Please forward this message to anyone you know who you think would like to assist the Lehr family and/or keep up on Isaac’s condition. There is also a place on our website where they can submit their email to be added to the mailing list.