Yearly Archives: 2007

I sat with John today.

He is struggling to breathe.  Fluid has built up on his lungs.  He works to live.

We take breathing for granted.  Each breath is called a respiration.  We have many during a minute’s time.  In the usual hour, most of us glance at a beautiful sunset, remain focused while driving, or force ourselves to relax.  Seldom do we have to remain mentally alert, focusing ourselves to breathe.

But, when someone is asthmatic, or has a cold or fluid on the lungs they work.  And work hard.  What would normally be focused on the events of the day is now consumed with one event — the next breath.  When your breath is more laboured than usual, panic sets in.  You drown in your attempts to breathe.  The implored statement from panicked onlookers — "breathe" — would be heeded if somewhere in the depths of your soul you could pull back from the precipice just long enough to put your feet on solid ground.

Those who have been around death know the stutter breathing of the last moments.  That final sign that the precipice is winning.  Then there is peace.

At that point, for Christians, the statement — "for me to live is Christ and to die is gain" — becomes a reality.  Thank God for another realm, whose depths we can barely understand in this restless, transitory and panting earth! 

Yesterday I had my blog entry all set to go.

It was marvelous (since you’ll never see it!). 

Then my computer froze up.  I had to reboot.  And I lost all the data stored in memory. 

Not a total loss.  I shut down the computer and spent the rest of the evening relaxing.  Phoned my parents.  Talked to my wife.  All in all a great way to end a day of rest!

Our community ministerial holds weekly Lenten lunches, every Friday.

Today was our church’s responsibility.  The lunch was great.  Our ladies had four soups.  A number were tomato based, along hamburger, vegetables and other additions.  Then one was butternut soup.  I’m awaiting the recipe via an email from Marilyn!  Sandwiches were delectable.

The short service/devotional time led us into prayer for family and friends.  I think too often we forget those closest to us.  They are taken for granted.  Right when they need our prayers the most.

So, think of two names right now.  Pray for them that the would know Jesus more, have protection throughout this day, and that joy may flood their lives.

I’ve been preparing for a funeral.  When I came to town a year and a half ago she was already in our manor.  She remained sharp of mind for a good portion of the time.  Only recently had she had a stroke.  Alice passed away on Tuesday.

As I started talking to relatives and friends history began to unfold.  Not all roses, for there were thorns.  Alice had been given up early in life.  Her home setting was not always the best.  She married an alcoholic.  The effects of cancer, diabetes and othere illnesses made her life difficult.  A hip replacement later in life was another complication.

Was she an optimist?  You wouldn’t think so.  But this one characteristic came through in stories told to me by others.  Perhaps some of her optimism was naive.  Perhaps some was a defense mechanism.

I wonder, though, if a belief in Jesus as her Lord and Saviour tempered the bad.  And now she has a new perspective — eternal and definitely optimistic!