There are lots of healing miracles in the Gospel accounts of our Lord’s life. They are all successful. I suppose that it would not be appropriate to report any unsuccessful attempts at healing, if indeed there were any. The healings all take place because the “patient” put his/her full trust in the healer “Jesus.”
When you think about it we do the same thing when we put our trust in what our doctors prescribe for us. We know they are not God but we have confidence in their education, their training, and their reputation.
One way of using scripture as a “prayer tool” is to put oneself into the story we are reading. I had a chance to do that on Tuesday. My friend and I battled the insane traffic at 7:30 AM to get to Ophthamology, Ltd for the removal of the cataract in my left eye. (Where are all these people going at that hour of the morning?) Since my chemotherapy began my eyesight began to change and it was difficult for me to see clearly. I’m told that chemo can cause cataracts to blossom. I’m also told that age plays a part and that everyone needs cataract surgery sooner or later. I guess I have a choice as to where to lay the blame.
The staff at Ophthamology, Ltd has this whole procedure down pat! We arrived at 8 and I was home by 9:15. My follow up was Tuesday afternoon when the doctor removed the shield and told me my vision would be much better the next day. And it was! For the first time in months I could see clearly with my left eye. What a miracle!
Now I am anxious for Thursday to arrive so my right eye can have the same procedure. A few days later I’ll be able to visit the optometrist and get the prescription for my new lenses. I am really anxious to have all this completed.
Last Sunday was the annual Epiphany Pageant at the Cathedral. It’s always entertaining for the cast is children, for the most part. During the pageant one of the sheep wandered off, and we also discovered the baby Jesus knew how to blow raspberries! It was delightful.
Winter has come upon us full force with six inches of snow yesterday and blizzard warnings today. Both I 90 and I 29 are partially closed. A sure sign of nasty weather is the closing of the Empire Mall which occurred last night. Today we just waited for the plows and the snow people (as I refer to those who come and shovel).
Having cabin fever caused by the fact that one cannot leave when one wants to do so, I thought of some supplies I needed from the grocery store so I ventured out. The streets were fine, a little icy in spots because the city hasn’t sprinkled the grit and salt yet. I did get stuck in the driveway entrance upon my return. One of the kindly neighbors came over to help. His push allowed me to get into the garage. I’ll have to remember to take a longer run when I next return home.
A good thing that happened was the garage door returning to normal operation. It has been going up about 3 inches and then stopping. If one helps it up it is fine. I was getting a little tired of leaving the car when returning home, going up the driveway, entering the garage and helping the door up. Garage door openers are supposed to eliminate all that. I had a passing notion about calling the repair persons next week. Now I do not have to do that. Another miracle perhaps?
Everything else continues to go well. I’m becoming fairly proficient with the prescribed eye drops. For the first few applications they qualified more as “cheek drops.” I’m grateful for all my blessings. Thanks once more for all your support and prayers.
I good friend wrote me about his frustration of never having enough time even though he recently retired. I know that is a common comment of retired persons. The Henri Nouwen meditation for today speaks to the situation in which many find themselves.
“It strikes me increasingly just how hard-pressed people are nowadays. It’s as though they’re tearing about from one emergency to another. Never solitary, never still, never really free but always busy about something that just can’t wait. You get the impression that, amid this frantic hurly-burly, we lose touch with life itself. We have the experience of being busy while nothing real seems to happen. The more agitated we are, and the more compacted our lives become, the more difficult it is to keep a space where God can let something truly new really take place.
The discipline of the heart helps us to let God into our hearts so that God can become known to us there, in the deepest recesses of our own being.”
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