August 24. Mike Lynch. Mike was a US Army gunner who got knocked for a horrific loop. Today’s story shows how Mike handled it. On this date in 2018, Mike decided it was time for him to forgive God.
A genie, God is not—not found in a bottle or a magic lamp, but in a relationship.
For thirteen years Mike wore a thick metal bracelet engraved with his best friend’s name: Aaron M. Hudson.
Mike and Aaron had met in basic training. Together, they deployed to Iraq. Together, they faced Iraq’s stifling heat and putrid smell of burning trash. Together, they withstood Iraq’s constant threat of danger.
And Mike admired Aaron’s faith, as his own was less established. In boot camp, he could go to chapel or clean the barracks, so Mike chose chapel. In Iraq, Mike related to God like an all-powerful genie in a bottle. Before Mike went on a mission, he rubbed the bottle and prayed for safety.
One day, Aaron’s Humvee had mechanical problems, so Mike’s team volunteered to take Aaron’s squad’s next shift. That night, expecting to head out early on Aaron’s shift, Mike told Aaron goodnight and that he loved him. But the next morning, Command sent Aaron’s team out in the ASV—a tank with tires instead of tracks, usually used by Mike’s squad. Aaron, a gunner like Mike, sat in Mike’s seat.
Back at base around lunchtime, Mike tried to get online, but there was a communication blackout. Whenever a soldier was killed, the army cut all communication until the family was notified. It happened so often Mike didn’t think much about it. When people started acting strange, Mike connected the dots. For four months, Mike had run successful missions from his seat in the ASV. But on April 16, 2005, Aaron sat there, and an improvised explosive device took his life.
The next day it was back to mission. Mike swallowed everything. If he didn’t, lives would be endangered. But Mike’s whole body revolted. He spent the day puking off the top of the truck.
Survivors’ guilt stole his sleep. “It should have been me,” he thought. “It was my truck.” The army gave him sleeping pills.
After his deployment was over, Mike hated being stateside. He was angry. Misunderstood. An outsider. He battled PTSD. If he passed trash on the side of the road, he clenched his fists, afraid an improvised explosive device would explode.
For the next ten years, Mike numbed out with alcohol.
In 2016, Mike’s wife went to church. But Mike didn’t. He had stopped talking to God back on April 16, 2005.
One day, Mike’s wife asked him to watch a sermon online. The preacher said people blamed God for everything bad. Then they took credit for everything good. It made Mike think. He went to church. Reunited with God. Built relationships with others. Two months later, he quit drinking. He and his family did a 180.
As Mike pursued a “with-God” lifestyle, he attended Operation Heal Our Patriots. The chaplain said, “Sounds like you’ve blamed God for a long time. Have you forgiven him?”
Mike thought, Of course.
But the chaplain pressed. “Have you said it out loud?” Mike stared at the bracelet he had worn every day for thirteen years. Right on his wrist. A constant reminder of the worst day of his life.
Mike had held onto the pain to honor his friend, and it had nearly destroyed Mike and his family. But it was not the life he wanted. It was not the life Aaron would want for him. It was not the life God wanted for him.
In a special ceremony, Mike nailed the bracelet to a pole. “I’ve been mad at You for a long time,” he told God. “This is me forgiving You.”
“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (Psalm 13:1–2 NIV).
Do you treat God like a genie, or do you trust Him and do life with Him? A genie, God is not—not found in a bottle or in a magic lamp, but in a relationship.
Based on an interview with Mike Lynch, 2019.
Story read by: Blake Mattocks
Introduction read by: Daniel Carpenter
Audio production: Joel Carpenter
Editor: Teresa Crumpton, https://authorspark.org/
Project Manager: Blake Mattocks
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