My in-laws, Dare and Morris Adams, had four birth children and then adopted 3 boys. Gary was the eldest of the latter 3.
Gary loved sports and played linebacker on Cherryville High School's varsity team.
Gary joined the US Army not long after graduating from high school. During the final year of his first stint, he and his unit were based in Germany. In the final days of his deployment, he was on medical leave following a simple medical procedure that required some down time. His intent was to sign up for a second tour of duty while on base.
One night while on leave, he and 3 friends went off base in a car owned by one of the other fellows. The car had no seat belts in the back where Gary and another guy were sitting. While returning to their barracks, and on base, they topped a hill and came upon military truck doing a U-turn. They slammed into the side of the big truck. The two men in the front died from their injuries. The other fellow in the back with Gary was paralyzed for some time, but ultimately recovered the use of his limbs. Gary's only real injury was a break in his spine at the base of his neck. He remained a quadriplegic until the time of his death, almost 20 years later.
Gary's condition required that my in-laws, and everyone else in the family, learn as much as possible about how to care for someone in his condition. He had a great support system, including not only family and close friends, but also from the V.A. He was enabled to build a house designed just perfectly for wheel chair access. He was supplied with a motorized wheel chair with the features which matched the very limited ability he had in his arms. He ultimately even acquired a van equipped so that he could drive it.
During his short life, Gary Adams was as beloved as anyone I have known. Now things could have played out differently. Had he allowed his circumstances to make him bitter and hard, his life, and the lives of those who loved him, would certainly have been much different.
Gary had received Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior before the accident. After it, of course after wrestling with all the feelings and thoughts associated with coming to terms with his condition, he came to find peace and purpose as a result of the power of the grace and mercy of His Lord in his life.
Gary's house was always open to his large family. He lavished love and gifts on his nieces and nephews. They loved to hang out with him. He really and truly became a center piece of the family. By the grace of God, his traumatic experience resulted in triumph. I do not mean to imply that his life was rosy every day, or that he did not continue to experience physical pain and mental anguish. However, it is no exaggeration to say that Gary's life exemplified the truth of Romans 8:28, which says, "We know that in everything God works for the good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose" (RSV).
Why am I thinking about Gary as I approach the start date of my thru hike of the AT? Because I and my family have seen up close and personal how the Word and grace of God can transform what the devil would like to twist and use for evil purposes, into something beautiful and edifying.
The forces of evil would like to use the conditions our South Sudanese refugee brethren are living in to produce a generation of bitter, hardhearted people. That is why we must do all we can to supply them with access to the Word of God, and Bible based training, so that their current traumatic experience can also ultimately result in a triumph of God's grace, one person at a time.
Remember, you can sponsor me on my AT thru hike at X amount per mile, or make a one time donation. The AT is 2,181 miles long. A check made out to "Calvary Road Ministry" and earmarked "Hiking to Help Refugees" should be mailed to: CRM,4100 Fulton Road, Corryton, TN 37721. Or you can donate on line at www.generosity.com. Just look for my fund raiser, "Hiking to Help Refugees." All donations are tax deductible via the nonprofit, Calvary Road Ministry.
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