Week 2 begins

I continue my journey in this life changing event in my life. Bonnie and I have reflected on how long I have suffered and did not realize how sick my heart was. God has definitely blessed me that I did not have a heart event before they realized that my heart had four plugged lines in it. Today my exercise steps up from 10 minutes 3 times a day to 15 minutes 2 times a day. Five minutes is a lot. Did not make it the first time, only was able to do 12 before becoming tired. But I know it is important to push oneself in order to get back healthy.
Our spiritual life is just like that. I remember some time back hearing about broken hearts being mended and how those mends leave rough edges. And yet God's love can smooth even the roughest edge, not just forgiving us but working hard to bring us back into a reconciled relationship with God. If only we humans could learn to do the same things. My children could learn a lesson here.
This week I get stitches removed and that all initial follow-up doctors visit which comes on Friday. But as always, as Paul reminds us, we must persevere and run the good race for the Kingdom.

Week 1 - middle of the week

Many thoughts are going through my brain today as I continue to recover. Moments of sheer boredom followed by pain and feebleness. As well as a certain melancholy that I am missing annual conference for the first time in my United Methodist Journey. I am so excited for those memories each year and treasurer them greatly as we gather to share in reunion, conversation, and discussion. So far I am progressing as I am supposed to be doing but the going at times is slow, especially trying to sleep which is an ordeal. Thank God that I have a patient wife in all this, but her tenacity comes from experience and it is good to rely on that. The journey continues......

Week 1 - A New Beginning

Well it has officially been a week since my Quad By-Pass surgery. To believe that I would be sitting, talking and taking short walks is an incredible statement to the power of God's grace and the power of God's healing through the Doctor's, the surgery, and the nurses care. To reflect back now on the last several years, I have been sick for some time and just did not realize that my tiredness and inability to exercise was the blockage. Today is a day of relaxation with some moderate exercise, and time to reflect on this new beginning that God has given to me. What ministries does God want to share with me in my life? What leadership is God calling me to with the church in order to proclaim the Kingdom? I think these are relevant questions for each of us as Christians each and every day. But how more dramatic it becomes when you realize that this physical life can be cut short due to illness. And when given the opportunity to overcome that obstacle, as I did last Monday, what responsibilities are brought with that great blessing.