In your ministry you will someday need to work with a victim of a TBI and their family.  No two stories are the same.  Each injury is somewhat unique but I hope my story can help you help others.

I was a very successful business consultant with more than 50 of the Fortune 100 companies as clients.  Providing solutions to business, marketing, communications and human resources problems were my strengths.  My life and career were cruising on the super highway of success.  Then my life changed dramatically as a result of a TBI.  I should have been one of the TBI death statistics but God still had a plan for my life that has taken the last 10 years to recover and prepare for.  

Here are some of the things I learned along the way.  The life of a traumatically-brain-injured person is a lonely, confusing and terrifying one.  Imagine one day waking up and the bulk of your thoughts don’t make any sense, and you can’t communicate what clear thoughts or feelings you have.  To add to the confusion and frustration you can recall the intimate details of an event that happened 20 years ago, but can’t remember what you had for lunch 20 minutes ago. Your life has changed so drastically you draw up in a shell with your confidence, self-image, self-value, and desire to live totally destroyed.  You feel totally lost, defeated, and worthless.  As time passes your loneliness turns to anger and you don’t care why or with whom you strike out in rage.  I can only begin to think how difficult this phase was on my wife and boys.  The realization of knowing I inflected so much pain on those I loved the most still hurts deeply!

It is very difficult to accept your new limitations, you are embarrassed with the seizures, and the physical pain in your head is next to intolerable.  Sound and light multiplies the pain so you take refuge by sitting alone in silent darkness.  I began to wonder, “What’s life’s new purpose for me?”  “There must be a reason God spared my life.”  The great news is I have discovered there is value in this old broken body.  And God can use it!  About five years ago God birthed my new mission in life.  It is to be of service to pastors!

If you have ideas on how we may be of service to pastors, please share them with us.

email Jim at: jsmith@pastorsline.com