Sunday Reflection - Pain

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3,4)

"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." (C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, 1940).

Both Betty and I have had our experiences with pain, Betty more so than I. She has had three accidents (car, moped and horse), acute appendicitis surgery and a bout of bacteria infection after the surgery. The horse riding accident was incredibly painful.

I have had several surgeries (knee, shoulder, hernia) and my most recent one from which I am still recovering. The most painful surgery was my shoulder, but the most painful recovery was the hernia surgery.

Much of our pain has been 'controllable' - by that I mean we have been able to emotionally stay on 'top' of our pain. However, we have both experienced pain that was able to get on 'top' of us, where you feel out of control because of the pain.

We have also experienced the pain of lost loved ones. Both of our parents are gone. Betty experienced more pain with the death of her mother who died of cancer when Betty was 20. Betty was the one who was able to stay home with her mother and nursed her during those last months so she experienced the pain of her mother's death perhaps more than anyone else - even though it was extremely hard on the whole family.

We both firmly believe the Revelation scripture that promises a future with no pain and we're looking forward to it. However, we live now in a fallen world where pain - physical, emotional and spiritual - is still a very real part of our lives and the lives of those we love.

We also believe that pain can be redemptive. It certainly was in Jesus' life for the pain he endured leads to our salvation and relationship with God. Sometimes it's hard to see how our own pain can be redemptive, especially when we're still in the midst of our pain.

If C. S. Lewis was right about God shouting in our pain, perhaps we just need to open our spiritual eyes to see and ears to hear. Although right now I would be happy to have a little more of God's whispering.

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More Fun Illusions

While I'm still recovering from my outpatient surgery this past Tuesday, check out this illusionist playing the part of a convenience store clerk.

 

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Friday Funny - Adorable Bats?

Things are still progressing. I took my first shower today since the surgery and it felt great. I'm still very sore, but it's getting better each day. Betty is doing a great job taking care of me and the horses.

So, another video for your perusal.

You don't usually think of bats as being adorable, but babies are babies. Check out these orphaned baby bats.

 

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Magic Hamburgers

I'm still recuperating from my surgery on Tuesday. So, knowing how much I enjoy illusionists, watch this Japanese street illusionist bring hamburgers out of a menu.

 

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Balancing Act

I'm home from my surgery and everything went well. Now it's just a matter of healing.

One of the neat things was my time in recovery. Betty had joined me and I was still a little groggy. Music was playing and we suddenly realized it was David Crowder, a popular Christian singer. I asked the nurses who chose the music. They said they did as they 'were all on the same page and the music was more for them.' They said most patients don't notice the music as we did. I told them Betty and I were on that same page and appreciated it. It made a blessed ending for the morning.

Since not much is going on in our lives other than me laying on the couch watching old movies, taped episodes of Castle, Bones and Big Bang Theory and Betty being the world's greatest nurse, I offer this amazing balancing act. It's a little slow, but it's worth watching all the way to the end.

It starts with just a feather...

 

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The Luckiest People On Earth

Well, I'm having my outpatient surgery this morning. I don't consider myself lucky, but I do consider myself blessed for many reasons.

So, while I'm getting 'fixed' (not what you're thinking), watch some people who probably are the luckiest people on earth - especially the bank robbers at the very end.

 

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I'm A Fool for April!

Today is April Fools Day. I wish what I am about to share is an April Fools joke, but it's not. I'm having outpatient surgery tomorrow. Nothing serious. When I had my prostate removed a few years ago, it turns out that it sits at the bottom of other parts of my interior. Sometimes those parts may shift and need to be rearranged. That's what they're going to do tomorrow.

It should be routine, but I covet any and all prayers. Betty can use your prayers as well as she has to take care of me and the horses. They're probably easier to take care of than I am ;)

To close I'll share something I ran across recently called The Balloonist's Prayer. Albuquerque is the mecca for balloonists and somehow it seems appropriate for me right now.

May the winds welcome you with softness.

May the sun bless you with its warm hands.

May you fly so high and so well that God

joins you in laughter and sets you gently

back again into the loving arms of Mother Earth.

 

 

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