An unexpected connection leads to the perfect book for a grandbaby’s journey

A couple weeks ago I received an email from a 96-year-old mentor. Dr. David McKenna asked me if I would be willing to read his unpublished manuscript with an eye toward writing an endorsement. Given our longtime friendship, I said yes.

I first met David in the fall of 1970 when I was a freshman at Seattle Pacific. He was the 41-year-old president of the university. Within a few months of meeting this Christian statesman, I recognized the merit in hitching my wagon to his star.

Over the past half-century, David and I have followed each other’s careers with interest and consistently communicated with each other. From the time our family moved back to the Seattle area 20 years ago, I have prioritized regular coffee times with this beloved elder. We have been each other’s cheerleaders in our various writing projects.

As I began reading David’s manuscript, something caught my eye. It was an incident he recalled when he and David Hubbard were attending a conference in Switzerland in the summer of 1974. Because Dr. Hubbard was president of Fuller Seminary where I pursued my divinity degree, my interest was piqued. I took a screenshot of the page.

Even though David Hubbard passed away 30 years ago, his daughter Mary has become a friend in recent years. I’ve made it a practice that whenever I come across something that relates to my beloved seminary president, I pass it on to Mary.

When I sent Mary the screenshot of Dr. McKenna’s reference to her dad, she responded with gratitude. In addition, Mary shared something she thought would be of interest to me. Because she has followed the CaringBridge updates about our grandson who was born weighing less than two pounds and with significant complications, Mary recommended a book.

“I think you’ll find ‘Dear Zoe’ by Max De Pree a meaningful read,” Mary offered. “The book describes the author’s experience with a preemie granddaughter born with issues similar to Niko.”

Since Mary knows I’m a huge David Hubbard fan, she also mentioned that the author of “Dear Zoe” refers to her dad several times. As I read Mary’s message, the title of the book she recommended rang a bell. So did the author.

Upon reflection I remembered meeting Max De Pree at a Hope College basketball game shortly before we moved to Seattle two decades ago. Because I was aware of Max’s books on leadership, it was a thrill to spend time with this remarkable man. Only later did I discover he also wrote a book about his emotional experience with a baby even smaller than our tiny grandson.

After reading Mary’s email and closing my laptop, I walked to our collection of books in the back of the family room. I was thinking I might actually have a copy of “Dear Zoe.” As I scanned the several shelves of books, there it was. I noticed the price tag on the back cover. I had purchased it 25 years ago for 95 cents at a Chicago area

thrift store. For some unknown reason, I held on to that little volume thinking I might read it someday.

Well, someday finally arrived. My wife Wendy and I sat down and began reading a most poignant account of the De Pree family’s ordeal with their preemie. It was much like what we are experiencing with Baby Niko in Children’s Hospital. That little book has been an amazing source of inspiration of hope as we trust God for the future of our grandson. It was exactly what we needed at this time in our lives. What a Godsend!

It was also a Godwink. I totally had forgotten about owning the book. The title of that book had not crossed my mind in decades.

It was only because Dr. McKenna had e-mailed me out of the blue and asked me to read his pre-publication manuscript that I noticed his reference to David Hubbard. And that is what prompted my contact with David Hubbard’s daughter. And it was only because I wrote to her that she wrote back recommending “Dear Zoe” which encouraged my wife and me.

What was it that St. Paul wrote to the first century Roman Christians? “All things work together for good for those who are called according to God’s purpose …”

• The Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos is a former Naperville resident who writes about faith and family.