Posted 2:50 am Saturday, October 27, 2007
Writer's Past Inspires Other's Future
Story By Patrick Butler
Religion Editor
Tyler's Patti Foster is ready to inspire those whose future appears fatally flawed or even destroyed. Quoting Helen Keller and famous hymns in her contribution to a new book titled "Amazing Faith," she joins authors such as the Rev. Dr. Robert Schuller of California's Crystal Cathedral.
But hers is no outreach to the downtrodden from a lofty ledge high above the valley of pain. Ms. Foster speaks from first-hand experience of life's sudden and catastrophic whirlwinds that leave broken, destitute or despondent people in its destructive path. A horrific 2002 traffic accident that she remarkably survived - and even more remarkably recovered from, say her physicians - has put the 39-year-old author, speaker and music instructor in a unique, if not painful, position: Encourager to the severely injured.
"What I went through was agonizing," she said on Wednesday. "My little body was dead. I had the life bashed out of me."
And she still has "constant pain" she said. It runs from the faint scar on the right side of her face to her neck. It continues down the side of her body that a still bear "scars all over" from the day an out-of-control semi-tractor trailer rammed into the back of her car while she was driving to a Bible study, catapulting her right through the roof.
"I'm here to tell you the Christian life in not pain free," she said. "That's a lie."
But now Ms. Foster, 39, is back and physically improving with each year through doctors' visits and the "challenges, therapies and mental exercises" she invents for herself. She tries to memorize the names of the women in the groups she speaks to, because "everybody's name counts.
The 700 Club will come to Tyler in November to tape her story of fighting back and turning her calamities into counsel for those in similar circumstances. In June, she will be a guest on "100 Huntley Street" a nationally televised Canadian Christian inspirational program. Newly released is her contribution with seven other authors to the book "Amazing Faith; Spirit-filled messages from across America offering hope that comes from trusting God in troubled times" by Insight Publishing.
And it's an amazingly spry and energetic youthfulness that almost pours out of the woman who still suffers from the condition of Brain Trauma Injury. Her positive attitude and personal slogan "MAD Now" for "Make A Difference Now" seem without posture or posing for any public reception of her writing or speaking engagements. Instead, Ms. Foster said she wants to focus on something else. That God is "massively real."
Knowing her background gives her writing an almost visceral, real presence, free from conjecture. In the book she writes, "Helen Keller said 'Character is not developed in quit and ease. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success revealed."
She affirmed that position last week.
"In the darkest times, I learned the deepest truths that matter the most," she said. 'Psalms 40:1 says "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.' I was forced to wait patiently. I was in several hospitals and needed intensive therapy, having to learn how to do every basic motion once again. But Jesus is victor. Jesus is reality. He is stronger than the powers of darkness and he helped me learn to live life again."
A former singer, a graduate of Sam Houston State University in Music, she had her vocal chords destroyed by the tubes stuck down her throat during a weeks-long coma after the accident. Having once participated in "worship, praise and as a fine-arts missionary" on trips to Russia, Poland, Australia, Mexico and England, she no longer could call on her strongest gift; her singing voice.
"But I was blessed by the suffering," she insisted during her interview. "I talked to God and I heard him. But that was because I didn't have all the business of life to interfere with me, to distract me. All I could do was talk to him and listen."
And, years later, the vocal chords are even "coming back" she said.
"My physician said if he hadn't known about the injury, he would not have guessed it," she said smiling.
She learned to be real with God, she said. She passes on that insight to Traumatic Brain Injury patients she visits at Baylor twice a month.
"When those (TBI) patients see me, they say 'wow. Miracles do happen.' It gives them hope just when I show up. I don't have to say much. I mostly listen, keep my mouth closed and ears open and let them talk and maybe say only a few words. Less talking, more listening."
And don't give up, she tells them. Never give up.
"Galatians 6:9 and 10 mean a lot to me now," she said. '"Let us not become weary in well doing for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
God is using the circumstances of my life for good," she said, "and good things are happening."
For more information, visit the Web at www.pattifoster.com
Religion Editor
Tyler's Patti Foster is ready to inspire those whose future appears fatally flawed or even destroyed. Quoting Helen Keller and famous hymns in her contribution to a new book titled "Amazing Faith," she joins authors such as the Rev. Dr. Robert Schuller of California's Crystal Cathedral.
But hers is no outreach to the downtrodden from a lofty ledge high above the valley of pain. Ms. Foster speaks from first-hand experience of life's sudden and catastrophic whirlwinds that leave broken, destitute or despondent people in its destructive path. A horrific 2002 traffic accident that she remarkably survived - and even more remarkably recovered from, say her physicians - has put the 39-year-old author, speaker and music instructor in a unique, if not painful, position: Encourager to the severely injured.
"What I went through was agonizing," she said on Wednesday. "My little body was dead. I had the life bashed out of me."
And she still has "constant pain" she said. It runs from the faint scar on the right side of her face to her neck. It continues down the side of her body that a still bear "scars all over" from the day an out-of-control semi-tractor trailer rammed into the back of her car while she was driving to a Bible study, catapulting her right through the roof.
"I'm here to tell you the Christian life in not pain free," she said. "That's a lie."
But now Ms. Foster, 39, is back and physically improving with each year through doctors' visits and the "challenges, therapies and mental exercises" she invents for herself. She tries to memorize the names of the women in the groups she speaks to, because "everybody's name counts.
The 700 Club will come to Tyler in November to tape her story of fighting back and turning her calamities into counsel for those in similar circumstances. In June, she will be a guest on "100 Huntley Street" a nationally televised Canadian Christian inspirational program. Newly released is her contribution with seven other authors to the book "Amazing Faith; Spirit-filled messages from across America offering hope that comes from trusting God in troubled times" by Insight Publishing.
And it's an amazingly spry and energetic youthfulness that almost pours out of the woman who still suffers from the condition of Brain Trauma Injury. Her positive attitude and personal slogan "MAD Now" for "Make A Difference Now" seem without posture or posing for any public reception of her writing or speaking engagements. Instead, Ms. Foster said she wants to focus on something else. That God is "massively real."
Knowing her background gives her writing an almost visceral, real presence, free from conjecture. In the book she writes, "Helen Keller said 'Character is not developed in quit and ease. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success revealed."
She affirmed that position last week.
"In the darkest times, I learned the deepest truths that matter the most," she said. 'Psalms 40:1 says "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.' I was forced to wait patiently. I was in several hospitals and needed intensive therapy, having to learn how to do every basic motion once again. But Jesus is victor. Jesus is reality. He is stronger than the powers of darkness and he helped me learn to live life again."
A former singer, a graduate of Sam Houston State University in Music, she had her vocal chords destroyed by the tubes stuck down her throat during a weeks-long coma after the accident. Having once participated in "worship, praise and as a fine-arts missionary" on trips to Russia, Poland, Australia, Mexico and England, she no longer could call on her strongest gift; her singing voice.
"But I was blessed by the suffering," she insisted during her interview. "I talked to God and I heard him. But that was because I didn't have all the business of life to interfere with me, to distract me. All I could do was talk to him and listen."
And, years later, the vocal chords are even "coming back" she said.
"My physician said if he hadn't known about the injury, he would not have guessed it," she said smiling.
She learned to be real with God, she said. She passes on that insight to Traumatic Brain Injury patients she visits at Baylor twice a month.
"When those (TBI) patients see me, they say 'wow. Miracles do happen.' It gives them hope just when I show up. I don't have to say much. I mostly listen, keep my mouth closed and ears open and let them talk and maybe say only a few words. Less talking, more listening."
And don't give up, she tells them. Never give up.
"Galatians 6:9 and 10 mean a lot to me now," she said. '"Let us not become weary in well doing for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
God is using the circumstances of my life for good," she said, "and good things are happening."
For more information, visit the Web at www.pattifoster.com
