1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: Life audio. 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 2: Have you ever wondered how you would respond if life 3 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 2: completely unraveled in an instant? My guest today, Cheryl Ramstead, 4 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 2: knows that reality all too well. After surviving a catastrophic 5 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 2: plane crash with less than a one percent chance of survival, 6 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 2: she could have easily given into despair. Instead, she chose 7 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 2: to rise, reclaiming her life, reinventing her future, and redefining 8 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 2: what it means to live with purpose. From the ashes 9 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:38,520 Speaker 2: of tragedy. Cheryl's story shines a powerful testimony of resilience, grit, 10 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 2: and the sustaining grace of God. Welcome to your hope 11 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 2: filled perspective, where our goal is always to restore hope, 12 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:48,480 Speaker 2: renew minds, and empower listeners to live in your God 13 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:51,240 Speaker 2: given identity. I'm so thankful when you decide to spend 14 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:53,639 Speaker 2: a few minutes of your week with us today. We're 15 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 2: going to be talking about how to find strength you 16 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 2: didn't know you had when life knocks you down. We'll 17 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 2: dive into that right after this brief word from our sponsor. 18 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 2: Most of us will never experience the devastation of a 19 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:13,119 Speaker 2: plane crash, thankfully, but all of us face moments when 20 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,839 Speaker 2: life feels shattered beyond repair. Today on your hope filled perspective, 21 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 2: I'm joined by Sheryl Ramstad, a woman who not only 22 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 2: survived the unthinkable, but she's gone on to thrive with perseverance, 23 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:29,040 Speaker 2: faith encourage. She rebuilt her life, pursued new careers, climbed 24 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 2: one of the world's highest mountains, and continues to inspire 25 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 2: others to press forward no matter the odds. Her journey 26 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,680 Speaker 2: is a living reminder that hope can rise from despair 27 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 2: and that our greatest challenges can become the very places 28 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 2: God's strength shines the brightest. In this episode, we're going 29 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 2: to be talking about how to find strength you didn't 30 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 2: know you had when life knocks you down. Cheryl Ramstad 31 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 2: is a burned survivor, former criminal trial attorney, and former 32 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 2: Minnesota Missioner of Corrections who re built her life after 33 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 2: a devastating plane crash. Now a nurse practitioner with a 34 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 2: doctorate in nursing, she brings a unique perspective to conversations 35 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 2: about trauma, reinvention, and public service leadership. Above all, she 36 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 2: treasures her role as a mother to three adult children 37 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 2: and grandmother to several littles. She resides in Minneapolis, with 38 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 2: her husband Lee, and she joins us today. Welcome Cheryl. 39 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Michelle. It's a joy to be 40 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 1: with you today. 41 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:30,919 Speaker 2: I was so inspired by reading your book, Living Life 42 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 2: Full Throttle. It seemed like every chapter we got to 43 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:41,640 Speaker 2: a new place of difficulty, of trial and your perseverance. Cheryl, 44 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 2: you might not know this, but my oldest son is 45 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 2: a commercial pilot. But I will never forget his flight 46 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:50,960 Speaker 2: training days learning on the Cessna one seventy two, and 47 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 2: I remember the day he was to take us first 48 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 2: solo flight, but even more so the first time that 49 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 2: I flew with him as my pilot. So I would 50 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 2: love for you to tell me about that life changing 51 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:05,799 Speaker 2: moment you endure that changed the whole trajectory of your life, 52 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 2: and what you remember about the event. 53 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 1: I'd be happy to do so, Michelle. And congratulations on 54 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:15,080 Speaker 1: your son because being that position, that's quite an honor 55 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: for him, and I'm sure you're very proud of him. 56 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 2: I am. 57 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 1: I was at the time a federal prosecutor and really 58 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:27,520 Speaker 1: steep in my professional career as a trial lawyer, while 59 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: at the same time, in my spare time, I was 60 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: taking flying lessons to earn my private pilot's license. My 61 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: husband had been a pilot since he was sixteen. We 62 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 1: envisioned a life together where we would have our own 63 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: plane take it on trips. He is the pilot and 64 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: I as a co pilot. Well, the fourth of July 65 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 1: weekend in nineteen seventy nine, we'd been at the lake 66 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: with my folks. Came back that Saturday on the seventh 67 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 1: of July nineteen seventy nine so I could have my 68 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: first solo flight as a student pilot, which is the 69 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 1: right of passage for a first time student pilot. We 70 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: got back and I was prepared. I had studied the manuals, 71 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: I'd gone through the checklist. I discussed in detail with 72 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 1: my instructor that the flight pattern would be a rectangular one. 73 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:20,600 Speaker 1: I'd go up and go in that rectangular pattern each 74 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 1: time I'd come back to the airport and be given 75 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: clearance to land, I'd touch down with the wheels. Then 76 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 1: I'd take off right away again and take off a 77 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,679 Speaker 1: second time. On the third time of my touch and gos, 78 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: I'd taxi into the airport, and then I would have 79 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 1: satisfied the requirements of my first solo flight as a 80 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,720 Speaker 1: student pilot. Well, everything went flawlessly over the first During 81 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 1: the first two touch and gos, I was flying over 82 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: downtown Saint Paul, the Mississippi River I ninety four, and 83 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 1: the State Capitol building. It was a busy weekend because 84 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: it was the fourth of July, but I was confident, 85 00:04:56,480 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 1: ready and prepared until the engine quit on my third 86 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 1: touch and go. After I had been cleared for landing, 87 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:06,360 Speaker 1: I was, as I mentioned, in a position where there 88 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:09,600 Speaker 1: were boats below with people on them. There were cars 89 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 1: on the freeway. It was packed. It was a parking lot. 90 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 1: The State Capitol was an immovable building. I looked for clearing, 91 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 1: but there was no place to put the plane down. 92 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 1: The plane dropped very quickly. I had about twenty seconds. 93 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 1: Quite frankly, I didn't think i'd live, but I didn't 94 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 1: want anyone to die with me. So on the way down, 95 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:34,479 Speaker 1: the plane caught a power line, which ripped off the 96 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 1: wing and sprayed the cockpit, causing the gas tank to 97 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 1: explode and the cockpit to ignite in flames. It then 98 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 1: came to an abrupt stop ten feet from a woman's 99 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 1: sunbathing in her backyard. When I felt the jolt and 100 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 1: realized that I was in this burning inferno and had 101 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: to get out. I tried to unlatch the doors, but 102 00:05:57,279 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 1: they had jammed from the impact. I tried to get 103 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 1: through the door that was on fire, throwing all my 104 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 1: body weighted against it once twice, and the third time, 105 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:11,840 Speaker 1: miraculously it popped open and I was able to climb 106 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 1: out through the flames and get to the ground, where 107 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 1: a man approached me who had lived in the neighborhood 108 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:20,840 Speaker 1: and asked me if there were others in the plane, 109 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 1: and I said no, it was my first solo And 110 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:25,920 Speaker 1: I said why did the engine quit? And he said 111 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 1: I don't know the answer to that question, but he 112 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:30,719 Speaker 1: said I do know one thing. He said, you did 113 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: a darn good job of putting that crippled plane down 114 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 1: without killing yourself and others in the neighborhood. He then 115 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: helped me get across the street to a sidewalk in 116 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 1: front of the Catholic church, Saint Vincent's Catholic Church, where 117 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 1: I collapsed. A priest came out of the church and 118 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:50,160 Speaker 1: gave me last writes before the rescue workers came and 119 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 1: took me to a burns center, where I spent the 120 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: rest of that summer recovering from burns. I was burned 121 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 1: over with second third degree burns over thirty seven percent 122 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:04,040 Speaker 1: of my I had been thinking that the hospital would 123 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 1: be the end of my journey, but it wasn't. It 124 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 1: was only the beginning. It was a year's long journey, 125 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: seven major surgeries. As you mentioned, I was given a 126 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 1: one percent chance of surviving. The next thing I remembered 127 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: after I got to the hospital was waking up in 128 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 1: the burn unit, in a hospital bed and looking over 129 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: and seeing my mother with the Bible in her lap. 130 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 1: She had been flown She had flown down to be 131 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 1: there with me, and she said, Cheryl, you're a strong person. 132 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 1: With God's help, will get through this. And both she 133 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: and I knew that. Although others thought it was my 134 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: first solo, the Lord was my co pilot. Thank you. 135 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 2: I love that. Talk about that just a little bit, 136 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 2: because Jil, I can only imagine doctors walking in and saying, 137 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:52,720 Speaker 2: you have less than a one percent chance of survival. 138 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 2: So what role did faith and determination play in you 139 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 2: beating those odds? 140 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: It was everything. All faith was. My faith was what 141 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: carried me through. When I was in the hospital, got 142 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: a letter from then Governor al Qui and it said, 143 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: I join your other friends in wishing you a recovery. 144 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 1: The Lord must have more important things, must have more 145 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 1: for you to do. And that really stuck in my mind, 146 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: and from that point on I tried to follow what 147 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 1: I felt the Lord was leading me to do. Into 148 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: this very day, I've done some things that other people 149 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 1: have questioned. They've wondered why I left the bench. I 150 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: was a judge. I was appointed a judge at age 151 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: thirty two or three years after my crash my Governor Qui, 152 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:38,680 Speaker 1: and I was on the bench for four years before 153 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:41,319 Speaker 1: I left the bench. And I think for every j 154 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 1: for every governor, a judge is their legacy. So I 155 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:49,600 Speaker 1: was concerned that I not disappoint Governor Qui, but I 156 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: felt led to leave the bench. And years later, when 157 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: I was Commissioner of Corrections and was able to start 158 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: the first faith based unit with Governor Qui, I looked 159 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: down at a prison fellowship luncheon where he was sitting. 160 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: I was speaking and I said, you know, Governor Qui, 161 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:08,959 Speaker 1: neither of us had any idea what the Lord had 162 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 1: in mind for me when he called me to leave 163 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 1: that bench. And I think, I hope you understand now 164 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:18,440 Speaker 1: why I had to do what I did. So that 165 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 1: was just one example of following the Lord's lead and 166 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 1: doing things that other people questioned. My remember my brother saying, Cheryl, 167 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 1: why are you leaving the bench. It's a position many 168 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: people try to get through their entire career, and here 169 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 1: you are a young person who could serve your date 170 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 1: and you serve the people with your judicial service. And 171 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 1: I said, Jim, I can't explain it. I just feel 172 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 1: led to do so. Similarly, when I was later in 173 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 1: a position to run the prisons in Minnesota, and quite frankly, 174 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 1: when the governor then Jesse Ventura, appointed me Commissioner of Corrections, 175 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 1: I didn't know why I'd been selected for that position. 176 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 1: Never been a woman in all the years that the 177 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:07,319 Speaker 1: correction system had been in operation in Minnesota running the system, 178 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 1: and there'd never been somebody from the outside, that is, 179 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,839 Speaker 1: somebody who hadn't grown up as a prison worker, as 180 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 1: a warden, or had some position where they were on 181 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 1: the inside. And here I was coming from the outside. 182 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:23,679 Speaker 1: But again I felt led to take the position. Well, 183 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:26,320 Speaker 1: I knew at the time I took it that there 184 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: was a faith based prison in Texas that George Bush 185 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 1: had started. It's called Sugarland and it was the Carroll 186 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 1: Vance Unit. So I set out to do research to 187 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 1: see if it would be appropriate for Minnesota. And again 188 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 1: I approached Governor Qui and I asked him if he 189 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 1: would serve as chair of a faith based advisory committee 190 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 1: to look into the feasibility of having a similar unit 191 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:53,120 Speaker 1: in Minnesota. Well, he said to me he was very 192 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:56,559 Speaker 1: dubious that it would ever happen with Jesse Ventura as 193 00:10:56,600 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 1: their governor, because the governor had been on Jesse Ventura 194 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 1: had been on record as saying religion was for the 195 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 1: weak minded. But both Governor Quee and I decided to 196 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 1: place it in God's hands and to go forward and 197 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: do the best we could, and we left the rest 198 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 1: to him. So we spent several months investigating. We went 199 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 1: down to the Texas unit. We spent a weekend talking 200 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: to inmates. We spent a weekend there talking to the 201 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:28,079 Speaker 1: warden and touring and going to the Bible classes. These 202 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: fellows lived in a unit where they did their Bible 203 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 1: studies together right where they lived. And we were very 204 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:38,319 Speaker 1: impressed by the people who said that God cracked their 205 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:41,080 Speaker 1: hearts open and changed them from hearts of stone to 206 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 1: hearts of flesh. So when we came back, we still 207 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: had this question of whether we'd be able to get 208 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:51,679 Speaker 1: the governor's approval to go ahead with a faith based 209 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 1: unit in Minnesota because it had never been tried before, 210 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:57,440 Speaker 1: it was relatively new. There were only three units like 211 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:01,320 Speaker 1: it in the country. But again we went forward and 212 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:05,439 Speaker 1: we got the unions to come on board, which unions 213 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:08,679 Speaker 1: are opposed to any sort of change, and they were 214 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 1: very concerned about that. But with meetings and discussion, we 215 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 1: were able to get at least their acquiescence in the 216 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 1: idea that they'd give it a try. Well, we still 217 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:23,560 Speaker 1: had Governor Ventura to convince, and I knew that if 218 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 1: his staff was around him, this was a novel idea. 219 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 1: I didn't think many of them were strong in their faith. 220 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:33,959 Speaker 1: So I knew I had to get him alone so 221 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:36,720 Speaker 1: that I could talk to him one on one without 222 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:41,479 Speaker 1: the influence of others. Because he was all about measurable results, 223 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 1: and we had the evidence to show that a faith 224 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: based prison could change lives and lead to reduced recidivism. 225 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 1: So I wotted to figure out how I could do that. 226 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 1: Because he always had his handlers around him, but we 227 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:59,200 Speaker 1: had a prison opening coming up in Rush City, Minnesota. 228 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 1: We were taking a small plane to the prison opening, 229 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:05,319 Speaker 1: or at least I suggested that we take a small 230 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:08,200 Speaker 1: plane to the prison opening with just enough seats for 231 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 1: my deputy commissioner, the pilot, the Governor, and myself, and 232 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,319 Speaker 1: I invited the Governor to go with us on that 233 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:16,960 Speaker 1: flight to Rush City so that I could have one 234 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: on one conversation with him. The Lord was with us 235 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 1: and that on that flight, and by the time we 236 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 1: got to Rush City, he said, Cheryl, you've done your 237 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:29,080 Speaker 1: due diligence. He said, as long as it works and 238 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:32,319 Speaker 1: nobody's forced into it, it's voluntary, you can go ahead 239 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:35,560 Speaker 1: and try it. So that was the last obstacle to 240 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 1: launching our faith based prison, and that was twenty four 241 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 1: years ago and it's still in existence today. It's been amazing, Michelle, 242 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 1: to see the change in people. I was at Governor 243 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:51,200 Speaker 1: Que's ninetieth birthday party and somebody came rushing over to me, 244 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 1: an African American gentleman and dressed in a suit, very dapper, 245 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 1: and commissioner Commissioner. Well, it had been quite a few 246 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:00,440 Speaker 1: years since i'd been Commissioner of Correction, so I could 247 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:03,839 Speaker 1: rather assume that he had been an inmate who had 248 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 1: known me as the commissioner. So I greeted him and 249 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 1: he said, Commissioner, I was in the first faith based class, 250 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 1: he said, and I served twenty four years in prison 251 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 1: and that got out, and I now own my own business. 252 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 1: I'm in construction. I'm married to this lovely woman who's 253 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 1: in the Saint Paul Ballet Company. He said, my life 254 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: has been good. And he said, I'm still carrying the 255 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: Bible that you and l Que Governor Qui signed when 256 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 1: you visited that prison and I was still behind bars. 257 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 1: He said, it's just such a blessing that I had 258 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:41,040 Speaker 1: that opportunity. Well, it was really good to hear that 259 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 1: his story was that changed his life. Today, I sit 260 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 1: as a pro board member for Minnesota. I was appointed 261 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 1: by our current governor to that position a little over 262 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: a year ago. So I'm one of four people who 263 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:58,520 Speaker 1: decides when the people, when those were serving life sentences 264 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 1: for heinous first degree murder crimes, are ready to be released. 265 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 1: It's an onus responsibility to weigh the public safety with 266 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 1: the reforms or rehabilitation that the inmates gone through. But 267 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 1: time and again I hear from those inmates coming before 268 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 1: us that they've gone through Prison Fellowship's program at prison 269 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 1: and it really changed their lives, and they speak earnestly. 270 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 1: They have mentors. They are prepared to go out into 271 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 1: the community, participate in the church with the mentor at 272 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 1: their side, and so it's been really gratifying. It's been 273 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:39,120 Speaker 1: twenty four years and it's still going strong and changing lives. 274 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 2: Raise God. That is amazing. Friends. We're going to take 275 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 2: a short break for a word from our sponsor, but 276 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 2: I want you to stick with us because when we return, 277 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 2: we're going to talk more about how to find strength 278 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 2: you didn't know you had when life knocked you down. 279 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 2: We'll be right back. 280 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 1: Cheryl. 281 00:15:56,760 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 2: In the days and months following that, what was the 282 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 2: most difficult obstacle you faced? Was it physical, emotional or spiritual? 283 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 1: Spiritual certainly was not an obstacle, but it was a 284 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:14,760 Speaker 1: real avenue for hope. My family would gather before me, 285 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:18,600 Speaker 1: around me before each of my seven surgeries, and we'd 286 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 1: all say the Lord's Prayer together, and that was a 287 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 1: reassurance that I wasn't going into that operating room alone. 288 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:29,720 Speaker 1: But my fate was in the Lord's hands. My mother 289 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:34,640 Speaker 1: would pray constantly, I would have the Bible out and 290 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 1: look for hope. I had friends like Governor Quee who 291 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 1: stood by me. I didn't realize when they told us 292 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 1: that I would be in the woods for two weeks 293 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 1: that it meant I was on the life and death border, 294 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,040 Speaker 1: and they didn't know which way it would fall. But again, 295 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 1: I knew that the Lord was with us, and I 296 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:56,080 Speaker 1: felt that things would work out. I had this abiding 297 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 1: sense of peace, and at age twenty nine, I had 298 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 1: a lot of left eye I wanted to do. I 299 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 1: hadn't started my family. I was in the beginning of 300 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 1: my career. I had just been training for a marathon. 301 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: I had run a ten k the week before by accident. 302 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 1: My parents had a photo of me running that race 303 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:19,239 Speaker 1: next to my bedstand. A nurse came in and saw it, 304 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 1: and she said, Cheryl, in two years, you'll be running 305 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:25,440 Speaker 1: a marathon and I'll be there at the finish line 306 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:27,879 Speaker 1: to cheer you on. Well, at the time, I couldn't 307 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:31,200 Speaker 1: even stand up, Michelle, let alone think of running again, 308 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:35,120 Speaker 1: Let alone think of doing something I'd never envisioned, run 309 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:38,919 Speaker 1: a marathon. But with the Lord's help, and grace. A 310 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 1: year and eleven months later I ran that marathon. I 311 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:46,440 Speaker 1: wore a bodysuit for two years. People would stop dead 312 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:49,120 Speaker 1: in their tracks and say, what happened to you? And 313 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 1: was an opportunity to say, with the Lord's help and grace, 314 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,679 Speaker 1: I was able to survive an airplane crash. And so 315 00:17:56,760 --> 00:17:59,920 Speaker 1: it became a source of my testimony that I wasn't 316 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:03,199 Speaker 1: flying alone. I wasn't flying solo, but the Lord was 317 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 1: my co pilot and had been leading me through not 318 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 1: only the very difficult times. I mean, burns are unlike 319 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 1: anything I had ever imagined. I had burned myself on 320 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:15,359 Speaker 1: an iron, or burned myself taking a pan out of 321 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:18,720 Speaker 1: the oven, or but I had no idea that one 322 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 1: could have their whole body covered with open sores. And 323 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:26,439 Speaker 1: my right hand was burned so badly that the doctor 324 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 1: thought he'd have to amputate it. It was burned right 325 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 1: down to the bone, and even now it's still not straight, 326 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:36,479 Speaker 1: it's still got wrinkles. But he decided, he said, to 327 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 1: slap some skin on and see if it would hold, 328 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 1: because he said he knew I was the trial lawyer, 329 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 1: and lawyers liked to use their hands. Again thanks to 330 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 1: the Lord, the skin stuck and I have the use 331 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 1: of my right hand, and I'm just so grateful. And 332 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: whenever I looked down at the wrinkles, I think, you know, 333 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 1: the Lord saved my hand and saved my life, and 334 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:58,639 Speaker 1: I'm so grateful for being for every day I've had. 335 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:01,720 Speaker 1: So when I was in the hospital, instead of asking 336 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 1: why me, I would ask what next? And the Lord 337 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: always had an answer for me, and that became my 338 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:13,840 Speaker 1: future question that I'd always ask what next? Lord, and 339 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 1: I tried to follow his lead when I was later 340 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 1: in life, when I was in my early sixties, I 341 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 1: was sitting on the bench again. I'd gotten reappointed and 342 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 1: I felt called. I felt this calling to help burn 343 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:31,359 Speaker 1: survivors because I had had this experience and I wanted 344 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:35,440 Speaker 1: them to know there was life after burns. So, one 345 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:38,400 Speaker 1: by one each semester, while I was sitting full time 346 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:41,679 Speaker 1: as a judge, I took prerequisites for a program at 347 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:44,919 Speaker 1: the University of Minnesota for nursing as his second career. 348 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:48,119 Speaker 1: Now this was a steep climb. My only science in 349 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 1: college had been geology and it had been years before, 350 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 1: so I had to start at ground zero with chemistry. 351 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 1: Anatomy Informatics. I mean, I just went through every course, 352 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 1: one each semester, and I did so thinking at first 353 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:06,399 Speaker 1: I was going to take it one step at a time, 354 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 1: and if the Lord wanted me on this path, I 355 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: would be able to see that and get the message. Well, 356 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:17,120 Speaker 1: each course I took, I was able to get an AA, 357 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:20,600 Speaker 1: I was able to make it to the final courses, 358 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:24,119 Speaker 1: and I had completed my prerequisites. And again I thought, 359 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:27,199 Speaker 1: I was, at age sixty two, is the University of 360 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:30,560 Speaker 1: Minnesota going to want to give one of these sixty 361 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 1: four coveted spots where they have nine times as many 362 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:38,200 Speaker 1: applicants for the positions to somebody at my point in life, 363 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:41,639 Speaker 1: in my sixties. But I again trusted the Lord, and 364 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:44,080 Speaker 1: I thought, if it's meant to be, it'll work out. 365 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 1: If not, I've done all of this preparation and it's 366 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 1: kept my mind sharp. My mother had had Alzheimer's, and 367 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 1: I thought, it's had that benefit, and if the Lord 368 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 1: has more in store for me, I'll take that lead. Well, 369 00:20:57,080 --> 00:21:00,920 Speaker 1: when I got my applicant, my application was accepted, I 370 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 1: was shocked. Now I had done everything in quiet silence. 371 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 1: I hadn't told anybody I was taking these prerequisites. Not 372 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 1: even my family knew why that I was taking these prerequisites. 373 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 1: I'd take them on my own time. I'd go in 374 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:18,359 Speaker 1: the study and you know, read the book the books, 375 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:20,959 Speaker 1: or I'd slip off to class early in the morning 376 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:24,240 Speaker 1: before I went on the bench. But it really forced 377 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: my hand to get accepted and to follow the Lord's lead, 378 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 1: because at that point there was a lot at stake. 379 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:36,000 Speaker 1: Nobody knew I was doing this. It was a program 380 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:39,120 Speaker 1: that meant I'd have to leave my judgeship go back 381 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 1: to being a full time student, something I hadn't been 382 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:44,440 Speaker 1: for years. But I did that, and yet I did 383 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:48,160 Speaker 1: so without telling anybody, because I didn't know if other 384 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:51,199 Speaker 1: people would understand. And I wanted to just follow the 385 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:53,520 Speaker 1: Lord's lead and that was what was important to me. 386 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:59,120 Speaker 1: So I went through my master's in nursing program. Eighteen 387 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:02,199 Speaker 1: months later I was nurse and then went on and 388 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 1: got my doctorate. So I spent five years in nurses training. 389 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:08,440 Speaker 1: And while I was in training, one of the most 390 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 1: gratifying things was to be able to return to the 391 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 1: very burn unit where I'd been a patient and to 392 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 1: see how I could influence and help and pray for 393 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:23,240 Speaker 1: people who were in the shape that I had been in, 394 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:26,359 Speaker 1: where it seemed might have seemed hopeless, but give them 395 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:30,119 Speaker 1: a reason to hope. And it was. It was interesting 396 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 1: because one of the things I did was I conducted 397 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:36,639 Speaker 1: a support group for burn survivors who had left the 398 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 1: hospital and their family members. Well after one of our 399 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:43,720 Speaker 1: burned support meetings, a woman came up to me, the 400 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:47,040 Speaker 1: wife of somebody i'd been helping, and said, Cheryl, we 401 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:50,720 Speaker 1: know about your crash. Your plane almost hit our house. 402 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:54,959 Speaker 1: We lived in that neighborhood, and we our house shook 403 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:57,840 Speaker 1: when your plane was coming down and it crashed right 404 00:22:57,880 --> 00:23:01,480 Speaker 1: across from our church. I was it crashed at four 405 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:04,159 Speaker 1: oh four. The woman said, I was going to the 406 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 1: five o'clock mass. She said. We rushed out. We saw 407 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:09,800 Speaker 1: our priest giving you last writes, and we prayed right 408 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:13,119 Speaker 1: along with him. There were ways in which the message 409 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:16,400 Speaker 1: to me was that the Lord was with me, and 410 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:19,080 Speaker 1: that I had followed the right path in doing that. 411 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:24,520 Speaker 1: So I would encourage others to let go and let God. 412 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:30,399 Speaker 1: It's so much so reassuring to know that our fate 413 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 1: is in his hands. And there were times when I 414 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:36,679 Speaker 1: was really not sure if I'd make it or not. 415 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 1: There was a time that they came in and one 416 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:42,479 Speaker 1: of the big fears with burn survivors burn patients is 417 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:45,360 Speaker 1: that they'll get pneumonia and then die from that. Well, 418 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 1: this person came in, a student doctor, a resident, and said, Cheryl, 419 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:54,080 Speaker 1: you might you might have dodged a bullet, but you're 420 00:23:54,119 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 1: about to meet your maker. He said, we think you've 421 00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 1: got pneumonia. Well I took a but there were several 422 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:04,080 Speaker 1: hours between that and the time I would see any 423 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 1: family member, and I was quite shook. But I took 424 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 1: my Bible out, and by the time my family came, 425 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:13,800 Speaker 1: I was content that if it was meant to be, 426 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:16,679 Speaker 1: it would happen, and if not, the Lord would be 427 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 1: with me. And fortunately it turned out that that medical 428 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:23,720 Speaker 1: student resident didn't know what he was talking about. He 429 00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 1: didn't know how to read the X ray. So my 430 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:29,160 Speaker 1: mother went out and found the head of the burn unit, 431 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:33,399 Speaker 1: the head surgeon, and he told her she doesn't have pneumonia. 432 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:36,160 Speaker 1: But you know, it was times like that when I 433 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 1: had no place to turn other than to the Bible, 434 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:42,480 Speaker 1: into praying and to following the Lord's lead. 435 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 2: Many people would have given up. Cheryl, What kept you 436 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:51,960 Speaker 2: moving forward instead of succumbing to despair. I'm thinking about 437 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 2: our listeners and our viewers who are going through difficult 438 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 2: circumstances right now. How did you hold onto your hope 439 00:24:58,760 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 2: during that process? 440 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 1: Well, I knew I wasn't in it alone. I reached 441 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:07,919 Speaker 1: out to others, in particular, people who I knew had faith, 442 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:13,400 Speaker 1: and would ask them what's next. They wouldn't have the answers. 443 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: But then I'd ask the Lord, and I'd see a 444 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:19,560 Speaker 1: path that made no sense to me at the time, 445 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:24,160 Speaker 1: but that I felt called to follow. And I can't 446 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:27,040 Speaker 1: explain that calling Michelle other than to say it was 447 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:29,920 Speaker 1: a still small voice inside of me that said I've 448 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 1: got it, Like the Governor said, I've got more important 449 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:36,280 Speaker 1: things for you to do, Cheryl. And so I would 450 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:40,879 Speaker 1: give the give others the advice that when it's bigger 451 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:44,200 Speaker 1: than you, when your recovery is bigger than you, when 452 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 1: your life is out of control, when you feel like 453 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:50,280 Speaker 1: you just don't have a place to turn, turn your 454 00:25:50,320 --> 00:25:55,920 Speaker 1: attention to the Lord and read your Bible and ask 455 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 1: for the Lord's help, ask him to walk beside you. 456 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:03,320 Speaker 1: Surround yourself with people who are faithful, who can help 457 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:06,480 Speaker 1: you in those times of doubt. Who can lift you 458 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:10,120 Speaker 1: out and encourage you? And that's what got. 459 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:14,920 Speaker 2: Me through Such wise advice from someone who's been there. Friend, 460 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:16,639 Speaker 2: We're going to take a real short break for a 461 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:18,480 Speaker 2: word from our sponsor, but I want you to stick 462 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:20,800 Speaker 2: with us. As we wrap up this episode, We're going 463 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:23,560 Speaker 2: to ask Cheryl to share a hope filled perspective about 464 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 2: how to find your strength when life knocks you down. 465 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:31,439 Speaker 2: We'll be right back, Cheryl. I'm curious, what did you 466 00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:35,479 Speaker 2: discover about yourself that you didn't know before the plane crash. 467 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 1: Before the plane crash, I was ambitious. It was all 468 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:45,760 Speaker 1: about my career, become the head of a number of organizations, 469 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:50,560 Speaker 1: the Young Lawyers Section, Women Lawyers, and my career was 470 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:53,560 Speaker 1: really on the rise. All of a sudden, none of 471 00:26:53,560 --> 00:26:57,880 Speaker 1: that made any difference. It didn't matter. But what mattered 472 00:26:58,680 --> 00:27:02,400 Speaker 1: wasn't why me? But what next? What was the Lord's 473 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:06,160 Speaker 1: plan for me next? It wasn't about bouncing back, It 474 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:12,000 Speaker 1: was about forging forward, turning survival into service. And so 475 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:15,560 Speaker 1: I became. After I got my nursing degree, I gave 476 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:18,919 Speaker 1: of myself to medical mission work. I went to a 477 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:22,680 Speaker 1: number of countries. One thing I was able to do 478 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:25,280 Speaker 1: is I went to Peru and worked at the Peruvian 479 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:29,680 Speaker 1: Unit for Children Burn Unit and Lima, Peru for Children, 480 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 1: and I saw there that these children didn't have compression 481 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 1: garments like I'd had the opportunity to have, which made 482 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:40,479 Speaker 1: it so that my skin most places was able to 483 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 1: be flat after the graphs that I'd had. And again, 484 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:47,440 Speaker 1: you know, with the Lord's help, I set out to 485 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:51,240 Speaker 1: try to bring what was standard of care in the 486 00:27:51,359 --> 00:27:55,199 Speaker 1: United States from the nineteen seventies to Peru in the 487 00:27:55,640 --> 00:28:01,040 Speaker 1: twenty fifteen to twenty twenty timeframe. I approached people, I 488 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:05,080 Speaker 1: came back and I went to manufacturers of compression garments 489 00:28:05,280 --> 00:28:07,960 Speaker 1: and the doors opened so that I was able to 490 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:11,359 Speaker 1: get patterns, I was able to get material, I was 491 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:14,800 Speaker 1: able to get there buy in to helping the people 492 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:19,240 Speaker 1: in Peru, and the people in Peru bought two at 493 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:23,840 Speaker 1: the hospital, the auxiliary bought two industrial sewing machines, and 494 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 1: now every pediatric burn patient in that burn unit leaves 495 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:33,440 Speaker 1: the hospital with two pairs of compression garments. Again, the 496 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:35,800 Speaker 1: Lord was behind that there was there would be no 497 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:37,639 Speaker 1: way that I would have been able to do that 498 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:40,960 Speaker 1: on my own, and just following his leads, and seeing 499 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:45,200 Speaker 1: the opportunity led me to do something that's benefited countless 500 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:46,760 Speaker 1: number of children sins. 501 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 2: And that's what impressed me so much reading your book, 502 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:55,920 Speaker 2: Living Life Full Throttle, is that time after time after time, 503 00:28:56,280 --> 00:29:00,040 Speaker 2: it seemed like you encountered what in the natural we 504 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:04,960 Speaker 2: would consider impossible, and yet we could see through your 505 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:09,640 Speaker 2: story that the God of the impossible stepped in to 506 00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:12,720 Speaker 2: do what only he could do. Cheryl, my listeners know 507 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:16,200 Speaker 2: that I've written a book Sacred Scars, resting in God's 508 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:19,400 Speaker 2: promise that your past is not wasted. And your story 509 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:23,239 Speaker 2: begs the question, because you have lived with both the 510 00:29:23,280 --> 00:29:27,160 Speaker 2: physical scars from the burns as well as emotional scars, 511 00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:31,040 Speaker 2: how have you embraced your scars as part of your 512 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 2: story rather than as setbacks. 513 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:38,600 Speaker 1: I've It's turned my life into one of purpose, Michelle. 514 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 1: It's given me direction. I focused on service over survival, 515 00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:47,480 Speaker 1: tried to encourage others, and that's that's been my goal. 516 00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:51,200 Speaker 1: So when I climb Mount Kilimanjaro, yes, I was challenged 517 00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 1: by the fact that it was the highest mountain in 518 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:56,520 Speaker 1: Africa nineteen two hundred and forty three feet, but I 519 00:29:56,600 --> 00:30:00,280 Speaker 1: was raising money for books for Africa it's an organization 520 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:03,960 Speaker 1: that provides books to children that don't have them in Africa, 521 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:06,720 Speaker 1: and we were taking the one millionth book to give 522 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:10,120 Speaker 1: to Tanzania at the at the top when we'd after 523 00:30:10,160 --> 00:30:13,680 Speaker 1: we'd climbed the mountain for four days, five days. I 524 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:16,280 Speaker 1: didn't know if i'd have the ability to do that. 525 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:19,240 Speaker 1: I didn't know if i'd get sick, and route half 526 00:30:19,280 --> 00:30:22,200 Speaker 1: of our group did. But with the Lord's help, I 527 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:24,719 Speaker 1: was able to get to the top, and it showed 528 00:30:24,760 --> 00:30:28,520 Speaker 1: me a lot of opportunity to rely on the Lord. 529 00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:31,880 Speaker 1: I'd look down and there'd be these deep crevices below me, 530 00:30:32,120 --> 00:30:36,560 Speaker 1: and I don't like heights, which sounds was Pilot's licensed 531 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:41,520 Speaker 1: to the flying lessons. I'd look down and or the 532 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:45,600 Speaker 1: dirt beneath my feet would start to move, And again 533 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:50,040 Speaker 1: I just prayed, prayed hard, and the Lord was there. 534 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:53,560 Speaker 1: And just as he'd saved my life at the time 535 00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:56,440 Speaker 1: of the crash, just as he'd saved me while my 536 00:30:56,960 --> 00:30:59,720 Speaker 1: recovery took place, just as he'd placed me in a 537 00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:02,480 Speaker 1: position to be able to start the first faith based 538 00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:05,400 Speaker 1: unit in the country, he was there with me, and 539 00:31:05,720 --> 00:31:11,360 Speaker 1: I now rely totally on him for that question of 540 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:12,320 Speaker 1: what next. 541 00:31:12,680 --> 00:31:15,120 Speaker 2: Cheryl, as we wrap up this episode, and I'm thinking 542 00:31:15,120 --> 00:31:18,760 Speaker 2: about our listeners and viewers who might right now feel 543 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:22,800 Speaker 2: like they're in the most impossible of situation if they're 544 00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:28,160 Speaker 2: resonating with our conversation, what hope filled encouragement would you 545 00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:30,720 Speaker 2: want to give those who were walking through their own 546 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:32,640 Speaker 2: plane crash type moment? 547 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:36,000 Speaker 1: Well, Michelle, the reason I wrote this book wasn't to 548 00:31:36,120 --> 00:31:39,440 Speaker 1: make money. It wasn't to become a published author, but 549 00:31:39,520 --> 00:31:42,680 Speaker 1: it was to give people who face setbacks, who are 550 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:46,520 Speaker 1: feeling like they're at rock bottom, hope. And I would 551 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:53,240 Speaker 1: encourage them to read Living Life, Full Thritle, Surviving Somebody Serving, 552 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:57,400 Speaker 1: because I think that it at least people who have 553 00:31:57,520 --> 00:32:00,480 Speaker 1: read it tell me time and again it's an iniration. 554 00:32:01,040 --> 00:32:05,200 Speaker 1: It's because it's been life changing for many, and I 555 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:11,120 Speaker 1: would urge them to take heart and turn their faith. Oh, 556 00:32:11,160 --> 00:32:14,400 Speaker 1: turn to their faith and rely heavily on the Lord 557 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:18,800 Speaker 1: for their future, to ask not why me, but what next? 558 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:22,200 Speaker 2: Yes, Frends, I hope you hear that. I think it's 559 00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:28,040 Speaker 2: our natural tendency as humans when we encounter unimaginable circumstances 560 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:31,960 Speaker 2: to wonder why me, Joe best? Why but the interesting 561 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:35,960 Speaker 2: thing is. God never answered that question, but approaching those 562 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:40,560 Speaker 2: situations and asking the Lord what next? Takes our focus 563 00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:44,160 Speaker 2: off of ourselves and puts it back onto the one 564 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:47,000 Speaker 2: who can make all the difference. It takes our focus 565 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:50,760 Speaker 2: off the problem and puts it back on the problem solver. 566 00:32:50,960 --> 00:32:54,080 Speaker 2: So if you feel like you're going through an impossible 567 00:32:54,200 --> 00:32:56,640 Speaker 2: situation right now, I just want you to take a 568 00:32:56,800 --> 00:33:01,120 Speaker 2: flu from Cheryl's story time and a time and time again. 569 00:33:01,240 --> 00:33:04,080 Speaker 2: Throughout her life, She's been in situations when she could 570 00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:07,479 Speaker 2: have asked why me, But by focusing her attention and 571 00:33:07,560 --> 00:33:11,280 Speaker 2: getting her hope from the God of all hope, she 572 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:14,200 Speaker 2: made it through, and so can you. Cheryl. Thank you 573 00:33:14,400 --> 00:33:17,680 Speaker 2: for sharing of your testimony of what not just what 574 00:33:17,720 --> 00:33:21,040 Speaker 2: you've been through, but how God showed up and was 575 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:26,120 Speaker 2: good and faithful to do the impossible in and through you. 576 00:33:26,680 --> 00:33:30,720 Speaker 1: He had the glory. That's my message, ma, he get 577 00:33:30,760 --> 00:33:33,280 Speaker 1: the glory that he is entitled too because it's not 578 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:35,760 Speaker 1: about what I did, but it was about what He 579 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:37,240 Speaker 1: has done in my life. 580 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:40,560 Speaker 2: Praise God for that. Friends, I hope that there was 581 00:33:40,640 --> 00:33:43,760 Speaker 2: something in today's episode with Cheryl that has encouraged you, 582 00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:46,680 Speaker 2: has renewed your hope and has caused you to think 583 00:33:46,720 --> 00:33:49,400 Speaker 2: about how you will find the strength that you didn't 584 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:51,880 Speaker 2: know you had to face the impossible. If you know 585 00:33:51,920 --> 00:33:55,080 Speaker 2: someone who's going through a difficult circumstance, consider sharing this 586 00:33:55,160 --> 00:33:59,160 Speaker 2: episode with them to provide a biblically based hope field perspective. 587 00:33:59,240 --> 00:34:01,680 Speaker 2: Thank you, Cheryl for being with us friends. I look 588 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:04,160 Speaker 2: forward to being with you again for another episode of 589 00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:07,240 Speaker 2: your hope filled perspective next week. You know, until then, 590 00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:10,000 Speaker 2: it's my prayer for you that you have a hope 591 00:34:10,040 --> 00:34:10,800 Speaker 2: filled week. 592 00:34:12,640 --> 00:34:19,600 Speaker 3: Job frustrations, difficult relationships, fluctuating health, emotional upheaval. When life 593 00:34:19,719 --> 00:34:22,400 Speaker 3: conspires to drag us down with all of its troubles, 594 00:34:22,480 --> 00:34:25,280 Speaker 3: it can be hard to keep our spirits top. Doctor 595 00:34:25,280 --> 00:34:30,480 Speaker 3: Michelle Bankson's nose severely ill admired the depression. She desperately 596 00:34:30,520 --> 00:34:34,000 Speaker 3: needed something to cling to. She needed a reason to 597 00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:37,400 Speaker 3: get out of bed each day. She needed strength to 598 00:34:37,480 --> 00:34:41,600 Speaker 3: hold on face each day. That's when she decided to 599 00:34:41,719 --> 00:34:47,200 Speaker 3: stand on God's promises that despite her circumstances, every day 600 00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:50,800 Speaker 3: was still a good day for a good day. Mostly 601 00:34:51,000 --> 00:34:56,200 Speaker 3: award winning author, international speaker, media resource for mental health 602 00:34:56,440 --> 00:35:00,520 Speaker 3: in podcast hosts, doctor Michelle Bankson has released her new book, 603 00:35:00,960 --> 00:35:04,120 Speaker 3: Today Is Going to Be a Good Day, ninety promises 604 00:35:04,160 --> 00:35:07,120 Speaker 3: from God to start your day off right. In this 605 00:35:07,280 --> 00:35:11,040 Speaker 3: uplifting devotional, Doctor Bankson helps you make each day a 606 00:35:11,080 --> 00:35:14,040 Speaker 3: good day, no matter what is going on in your life. 607 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:19,440 Speaker 3: Each reading includes scripture, reflection, prayer, and a recommended playlist 608 00:35:19,640 --> 00:35:24,480 Speaker 3: song designed to help you live out Philippians four eight. Finally, 609 00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:28,880 Speaker 3: Brothers and Sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever 610 00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:33,759 Speaker 3: is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, 611 00:35:34,239 --> 00:35:38,360 Speaker 3: if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things 612 00:35:38,440 --> 00:35:42,400 Speaker 3: because our thoughts determine our beliefs. Our beliefs determine our attitudes, 613 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:46,400 Speaker 3: and our attitudes determine our behaviors. This is a beautiful 614 00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:50,680 Speaker 3: book that will make the perfect gift for birthdays, anniversaries, 615 00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:55,400 Speaker 3: mothers or Father's Day, Valentine's Day, or for anyone on 616 00:35:55,440 --> 00:35:58,080 Speaker 3: your gift list who is going through a difficult time 617 00:35:58,280 --> 00:36:02,040 Speaker 3: and needs a daily reminder that despite our circumstances, today 618 00:36:02,160 --> 00:36:04,840 Speaker 3: can still be a good day. Today is Going to 619 00:36:04,880 --> 00:36:07,840 Speaker 3: Be a Good Day is available wherever books are sold. 620 00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:11,479 Speaker 3: When you pick one up for yourself, consider getting one 621 00:36:11,560 --> 00:36:14,680 Speaker 3: to gift to a friend or loved one too fail. 622 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:20,240 Speaker 4: Thank you for it, Thank you for joining doctor Banks 623 00:36:20,320 --> 00:36:23,359 Speaker 4: and to your hope build perspective. We hope you are 624 00:36:23,440 --> 00:36:28,400 Speaker 4: encouraged by her authenticity, vulnerability, and biblical truths. If you 625 00:36:28,480 --> 00:36:31,840 Speaker 4: enjoy today's conversation, when you take a moment right now, 626 00:36:32,239 --> 00:36:35,040 Speaker 4: open up your podcast app and look for the subscribe 627 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:38,359 Speaker 4: button right next to our podcast profile image. We think 628 00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:41,120 Speaker 4: this podcast is best enjoyed with friends, so tell a 629 00:36:41,160 --> 00:36:43,880 Speaker 4: friend and click share and in your podcast app and 630 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:46,839 Speaker 4: send a friend our link to share Hope with them. 631 00:36:47,120 --> 00:36:49,880 Speaker 4: If you have a comment, question, or suggest a topic 632 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:52,600 Speaker 4: for a future show, reach out to our staff at 633 00:36:52,600 --> 00:36:57,160 Speaker 4: info at Hope Prevails dot org for additional resources. Information 634 00:36:57,160 --> 00:37:01,440 Speaker 4: about doctor Bankson's books where free downloads. To contact her 635 00:37:01,560 --> 00:37:05,160 Speaker 4: to speak at your next event, please visit doctor Mishelby 636 00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:09,840 Speaker 4: dot com. Until next time, May you have a hope filledweek. 637 00:37:12,840 --> 00:37:15,279 Speaker 2: I'd like to take just a second to thank the 638 00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:18,239 Speaker 2: team at Life Audio for their partnership with us on 639 00:37:18,280 --> 00:37:21,239 Speaker 2: this podcast. If you go to lifeaudio dot com, you'll 640 00:37:21,280 --> 00:37:24,960 Speaker 2: find dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. 641 00:37:25,080 --> 00:37:28,839 Speaker 2: They've got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more.