Who is Taryn?

Up until Sunday morning, 27th February, most of us at Rosebank Union Church didn’t know her. But on that day, at the 8:00 service, Leigh read a letter she had written, introducing herself and explaining why she wished to be baptized. Her story was read again at the 10:00 service. By the end of the morning, hundreds of people knew Taryn and have begun praying for her and her family. 

I was one of those people who had never met Taryn although I was aware of her situation because of Leigh’s contact with her. Since that Sunday, I think about her, pray for her and tell others about her. 

Here is what Leigh read before he and her dad, Peter Durham, carried her from her wheel chair into the waters of baptism.

“Good morning. My name is Taryn Dickinson. Up until two years ago many would have described my life as blessed. I was born into a big and beautiful family with parents who loved me and sisters who still to this day remain my best friends. As a little girl I attended Sunday school at Rosebank Union Church. We grew up knowing the Lord and as a young adult I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. Life was good. I married the love of my life, we travelled the world and lived and worked overseas. God blessed us with a beautiful healthy baby girl, Tess, followed by her equally beautiful and healthy baby brother, Campbell. Life was a bed of roses and we hadn’t come across one thorn…

“As Christians we know that storms will come and that our faith will be tested but often we get swept up in day-to-day living without giving a moment of thought to how we will equip ourselves when the storm finally hits. My brother and sister-in-law lived in Bermuda for a time and every so often they would be given fair warning of approaching hurricanes. They would prepare themselves and their home. They would huddle with their little girl in the bath with a mattress covering them while the storm raged outside. They were prepared and protected as best they could be. They didn’t open their doors and go outside to observe the forces of nature. That would have been reckless and irresponsible. I’m using this analogy because I was that person who went out into the storm, ill-equipped. The weather was wonderful so why prepare for a storm?

“Two and a half years ago, a few months after the birth of my son, I started noticing weakness in my fingers. I was fit and healthy so naturally these signs were noticeable. I brushed it off and put it down to a pinched nerve. Symptoms progressed at an alarming rate and despite visits to several neurologists, scans, invasive testing and in-depth investigation of my symptoms, my doctors were unable to diagnose my condition. Finally after 3 months, my husband and I sat in yet another doctor’s waiting room as grief consumed us while being told that I had Motor Neuron Disease, also known as ALS, a rare, degenerative disease that mainly destroys the body’s muscular neurotransmitters. In one sentence I was given 2 to 3 years to live. Thoughts of an empty chair at my daughter’s wedding table, missing my son’s sports games, birthdays, graduations and all those wonderful privileges that come with being a mom threatened to overcome me. I was drowning in sorrow as I turned to the only One I knew could bring me out of this…God.

“With a strong, supportive, praying family, we asked God to give us all courage, strength and the greatest faith in the midst of such a calamity. He has not only answered our prayers but given me so much more, a peace that not even I understand, family and friends who continue to amaze me with their love, kindness and support. Over the past two years I have lost most of the use of my left arm, my legs and my speech but regardless of my weakening body my faith and my walk with Him grows stronger every day.

“Today I am incredibly privileged to be able to show and share with each one of you, my Rosebank Union Church family, and my Lord and Saviour, this outward show of my deep faith.”

Why am I sharing Taryn’s story with you? Because she is someone worth knowing even if it’s just through this blog. As she’s become weaker and weaker, her faith has become stronger and stronger.

I’ve just finished reading Mark Buchanan’s latest book, “Spiritual Rhythm” where he tells the story of a fellow in his church called Clarence. I want to quote a short section that Mark wrote about Clarence, replacing his name with Taryn’s.

“The only thing she does in the church now is show up, which is a major feat in itself. Taryn is learning the secret of abiding. She’s practicing a tenacious dependency on Christ every day, every moment. In this wintertime of her life, when she can do very little, she’s experiencing her greatest closeness with Jesus. Her life is taking the shape of a prayer. If prayer, as Revelation 5 tells us, is incense in the throne room of God, then Taryn’s days are pure fragrance.”