Terri Schiavo – God’s Living Parable to a Dying World!

Terri Schiavo – God’s Living Parable to a Dying World! 

by Tom and Linda McGlade

Terri Schiavo was not terminally ill. In fact, her general health was excellent. Although she had suffered brain damage from a stroke years earlier, she required no external life support systems. Unable to feed herself or swallow, she required a feeding tube for her daily nutrition.

Terri's family, Mary and Bob Schindler, her sister Suzanne, and brother Bob, had for years tried to regain her guardianship. They are wonderful people - the “All American” family - who have stood eagerly ready to assume all responsibility in the care and treatment of their daughter and sister. For many days, prior to and after Terri’s feeding tube was abruptly removed due to a court order, Terri's family and concerned supporters literally camped outside of the Woodside Hospice Center, Terri’s home for the past three years. They welcomed graciously and lovingly all the support and acts of love that was given to them and their beloved Terri.

A cry to the nation to repent!

Prior to our trip to Pinellas Park on the Wednesday that the feeding tube was removed, it is shameful to admit, but most of us had not really paid much attention to the plight of this precious young lady. Prompted by the encouragement of a brokenhearted woman who lived in Montana (who we had never met), who begged us to intervene on behalf of Terri, we obeyed God and went. Little did we realize that the Lord was preparing a banquet table, in the midst of a mighty host of enemies, for those who sought to rescue His helpless handmaiden! The feast was to be bountiful; yet, sadly very few were going to take part in this “Lord's Supper” – it was only for those who had eyes to see.

We bow our knees to God alone! Praise Jesus!

Pastor Sam Green from Melbourne, Florida, summed up our initial reactions best at the Woodside Hospice Center. "I stared insanity in the face," he reported to his church Wednesday night. The fact was: Terri Schiavo was sentenced to a type of punishment that was beyond human comprehension. These days, if someone treated their animal in this fashion they would find themselves quickly behind bars; and yet, here, in front of this present day “gate of hell”, with every media outlet imaginable scrambling for details, a young woman was being subjected to a torturous execution type death - while all America watched. Her crime – she was disabled and severely handicapped!

Little Mica proclaims Truth

We found ourselves being drawn to the Hospice Center by the Spirit of God again and again. This was to become the focal point of an incredible spiritual battle; however, there was to be little if any "spiritual" resistance found. No local pastors came - a handful of believers dared to lend their support. The Schindlers were shocked and hurt that even their local catholic church stayed away from the “controversy”. One “rogue” priest (as described by Michael, Suzanne’s fiance’) dared defy the powers that be and was even willing to get arrested if it took that in order to be able to offer Terri communion. Michael shared that he fought against bitterness and resentment toward the church; however, his heart remained soft and open to the Lord.

Praise to the King of kings! Worship the King of kings!

On Saturday we brought our church from Bradenton out to the streets of Pinellas Park. The impact that we found as a result of the spiritual warfare that was waged through worship and prayer was so great that we knew that we had to come back and have our Sunday church service there in front of the Hospice Center. When we arrived on Sunday morning the media was waiting. They couldn't believe we were going to actually have church right there on the street. Iris, a precious local sister in Christ who had taken on the task of providing daily food for Terri supporters, was ecstatic. She happily ran and gathered the others who were present to join us.

Tom proclaims God's Truth!

There we stood in the very valley of the shadow of death surrounded by evil forces of darkness. It was there, Almighty God, lavishly fed us meat from His banquet table. With cameras rolling, Pastor Tom shared of the God in heaven who will not have mercy on a nation that turns its back on the helpless, the maimed and the imperfect - He will not bless a Church that ignores the silent cries of those who are staggering to the slaughter. As God’s people, we must conquer through the blood of the Lamb, the Word of our testimony, and in not loving our lives as in shrinking back from death. We were literally staring at death in the face, and we could not cower from the task at hand. Ultimately, the gates of hell would not prevail! The Lord had pulled back, through the living parable of Terri Schiavo, the curtain of the heart of our nation and had exposed our nakedness. We were a people who have turned our backs on a Holy God – and have become of culture of Death thirsting for more DEATH!.

Worship the King!

As we worshipped Almighty God and prayed for Terri, we began to cry out with broken hearts to the Lord of heaven and earth for the abominations that were before us. Whether Terri lived or died, we were bound to our Lord Jesus Christ to obediently lift up His Standard of Truth and Life regardless of the lies and the taunts of the enemy – Terri Schiavo and all of those whom the world deems as imperfect and without worth, are, in fact, precious gifts from a Holy God. The Lord was speaking forth to us and to the nation through the living parable of Terri Schiavo!

God alone can save!

Members of the Schindler family thanked us over and over for blessing them. The presence of a Holy God was there for them to be refreshed and encouraged. They, too, rested in His will and providence. At that point, all avenues of human intervention had been exhausted and there was no possible way except through a move a God that Terri could be saved!

The fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much!

On Tuesday the 21st - the seventh day that Terri Schiavo was without water and food - Flip and his family, Christine, John and friends from Dallas, joined the fray. The church in Bradenton along with the church from Melbourne met them all at the gates - and the battle continued! There was now a slim chance that the governor would get a bill passed that would save Terri’s life. Thousands of calls had been coming in to encourage him to take a stand. Would the Lord heed the cries of His people or would we again face another sign of a judgment from a Holy God? Again, we set up our instruments and sound system and had Church. We worshipped and prayed, preached the Word, cried and poured out our hearts to the Lord of Hosts – ALL DAY LONG!

Pastor Sam offers to give Terri water

Pastor Sam was going to lead a final push - Terri hadn't had any liquid since the past Wednesday - he was going to offer Terri a drink of water. Though the police had made it clear that no one could cross the property line, Sam felt compelled to offer the drink regardless of the consequences. As Sam encountered the police officer many others lined up with cups full of water, ready to follow. Then God intervened. Sam was waylaid by the officer's openness to the Gospel and he took the opportunity to share the Word with him. Again, God seemed to confirm the fact that Terri was sent to rescue us. She was the parable, and though our ideas were heartfelt and sincere God had other plans. He personally was going to rescue her!

God's people cry out to Him!

Then, at around five o’clock in the evening a cry of joy rang out from the Schindler family. Both the House and the Senate in Florida had overwhelmingly passed what they called the Terri Bill – a bill that had come from nowhere. Governor Bush was standing by to quickly sign it so that Terri could LIVE! DEATH had been defeated at least for the moment, and a power that was not their own had caused the lawmakers to act righteously and CHOOSE LIFE! “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as are the watercourses; he turns it whichever way He wills (Prov.21: 1). The gates of Hell had been pushed back! God Almighty had intervened and everyone knew it! The celebration of life was electrifying! Christians and non-Christians alike – the police officers and the even the media could not discount the wonder of what God had done! Bob Schindler boldly proclaimed that His faith in God was restored! It was evident for all of those who had eyes to see that the God of heaven and earth had shown forth His Will! The question remains: Will we, as a people and nation, learn from this living parable? Will we, as a people and nation, repent from our wicked ways? Will we turn to the Lord of all creation and bow to Him and Him alone? It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God whose will in continually ignored! Lord, have mercy on us all!

Tears of joy!

“When the poor and the needy seek water when there is none; and their tongue faileth for thirst. I, the Lord will answer: I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them” (Isaiah 41:17).