Healing
But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:20
Probably like you, I’ve had many teachers in my life. I learned something from each and every one of them although I don’t know that I could tell you exactly what I learned from whom. But there is one man that I could tell you what I learned and it was the most valuable lesson of all. That man is Dick Mohlene. He taught me that God’s wasn’t through with me yet.
Dick is a Christian counselor spending most of his life teaching other Christian counselors, editing a magazine for a university and assisting with the creation of a curriculum for a ministry degree at John Brown University. JBU is a wonderful school in a quaint college town nestled in Siloam Springs, Arkansas on Holly Street. It sounds like a line straight out of a classic novel, doesn’t it? I was referred to Dick by my pastor after going through a really rough time in my life. He encouraged me to get into the ministry degree at JBU and even was my professor in my final course.
What I learned from Dick though was mostly in our counseling sessions, which I called coaching or “class” time because I was like a sponge ready to soak up everything. His wisdom was beyond his years even though he was in his seventies. God’s wisdom, grace and spiritual discernment was upon this man in a divine way. So much so that I drove over an hour and a half through winding road from my Missouri home to Dick’s Southwest Arkansas office.
Once I was pulled over once for speeding, this time by accident going downhill, and the State Trooper was curious why I was in Arkansas coming from Missouri. When I told her, it wasn’t one she’d heard before. She thought about it and said, “Well, he must be good if you’re going to drive that far so I’ll let you go this time,” to which I agreed. She promised to watch for me the next few weeks and there she was every time. I couldn’t help but wonder if I should have given her Dick’s number.
My first visit with Dick was strange for me anyway. I had absolutely no hope at all that God could use someone like me who’d been called to the ministry but had definitely chosen to live with the pigs as the prodigal son did wasting his inheritance. My horrific lifestyle had led me to a point of such despair that I had just recovered from a nearly fatal suicide attempt.
So I sat in his office spilling the beans, so to speak, halfway expecting him to fall over in shock or to see his eyes turn from compassionate to judgmental, but they didn’t. I almost became defiant demanding condemnation by telling more and more, but Dick only responded with Christlike love and compassion. I knew God to be gracious and forgiving, but I didn’t feel it; this was my paradox.
God’s Spirit was so upon Dick’s heart and mind that Dick knew exactly what to say each time we met. Whatever I was dealing with at that time, he’d literally bring up and deal with as if he could read my mind. My self-hatred began to melt like Alaskan snow in the Florida sun. There’d be days of setbacks and days of growth just like during any healing process.
I had never thought of the Parable of the Prodigal Son relating to me before, but when Dick helped me see the connection, it really made sense to me. Before that, I was in a weird place because everyone’s story consisted of doing the things I did prior to becoming a Christian, not after. But the prodigal son was the father’s son before he chose to leave and squander his inheritance, live with the pigs and then come back.
I too, like the prodigal, wanted to crawl back and try to “earn” my place back in the Father’s house. But the Father was waiting and with compassion ran to me restoring me anxious to show me His purposes for me. Before that, I thought He was done with me. I’d lived with the pigs and wasn’t worthy of His love or a share in ministry. Dick taught me that wasn’t true. Since then, I received my master’s in ministry and I’m working on my counseling degree.
Dick was at my graduation. I still see him as often as I can. I treasure his wisdom as pearl more valuable than anything. His spiritual discernment is a gift that has obviously affected others as well. Two years ago, he and his wife, Jane received a lifetime achievement award by the American Association of Christian Counselors for their contributions to the counseling community. I plan on keeping Dick as my teacher for years to come.
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