musings

I'll never forget the time I went to the ICU at our city hospital to call on an elderly lady who was critically ill. Before entering the suite, I was informed by a charge nurse that the patient was suffering greatly, in spite of the morphine that was in her system. She was unconscious, thrashing about violently, murmuring pathetically.

I wondered if it was a waste of time. Perhaps I should return at a later date, when she was more lucid and not so uncomfortqable. But I had come this far and decided to proceed with my visit.

I gently placed my hand on her arm and began to pray. The words didn't come easily. In fact, they were more groans than words. The best prayers have often more groans than words. Suddenly, she began to calm down, slowly at first, then miracuously, by the time I had finished my brief prayer, she was completely at ease.

There was an unseen Presence in that room. Even the nurse commented that she had never seen anything like it. I was reminded of something I had read regarding the famous Mayo Brothers, Doctors Will and Charles, who founded the world-renound Mayo Clinic. Said Dr. Will Mayo: "I have seen patients that were dead by all standrds. We knew thy could not live. But I have seen a minister come to the bedside and do something for him that I could not do, although I have done everything in my professional power. But something touched some immortal spark in him and in defiance of medical knowledge and materilaistic common sense, that patient lived!"

Who can measure or fathom the power of believing prayer? Who can unravel its awesome mystery? Tennyson said it well: "More things are wroght by prayer than this world dreams of."

musings

I read about a lady in Turkey who demonstrated unmatched persistence on her wedding day. Apparently it is the custom in that country to have several days of celebration, and I might add, revelry, prior to tying the knot.

On the evening before the wedding, there was a good deal of drinking taking place. Someone had a pellet gun and began shooting in the air. The intended bride was struck several times in the stomach and subsequently taken to a nearby hospital. The doctors, after examination, recommended that they surgically remove the pellets immediately, lest infection should set in. The bride refused treament for the time being, saying she would return after the ceremony because guests had traveled a great distance and it would be inappropriate to postpone or dely the event.

She went through the wedding service and even danced with her new husband at the reception. Then, the following day she returned to the hospital for treatment.

Talk about persistence! Nothing in the world, including talent, genius and education, can take the place of perseverance. No one ever accomplished much without it.

The Turkish bride did not let pain or inconvenience deter her from the prize she had chosen. I guess that old adage is right after all: "If you're not afraid to face the music, you may someday lead the band."

Without a doubt, the greatest example of persistence is found in the determination of Jesus Christ to accomplish His mission. He set His face to go to the cross. He puposed to become our sin bearer in order to give us everlasting life and no amount of suffering and rejection would keep Him from it. Oh, that we would follow His example, keep our eyes on the goal and push through to the end.

musings

I was flying across the country recently, and as I gazed out the window my eyes fell on a river below. From 32,000 feet it looked something like a large serpent, its course winding here and there. That's because in its formation, it followed the path of least resistance.

On the other hand, a straight canal calls for advance planning, toil and suffering as those who create it dig and blast their way through rugged terrain.

Lives are like that. Certain professions are like that. For example, politicians often follow the lines of least resistance. They twist and turn as they adapt to the changing mores of society. In doing so they wander aimlessly with no certainty as to their final destination. Like those who dig a straight canal, the righteous determine a goal and pay the price necessary to achieve it.

What about your life? Whether seen from afar or close up, is it straight or crooked? Proverbs 10:9 says, "The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out."

musings

I don'tlike hypocrisy...either in myself or in others. I want to be genuine--the real article. I don't want anyone to stumble over my refusal to be authentic. One of Aesop's fables speaks to this point.

It happened about the time when the beasts of the field and the birds of the air were engaged in a war. A bat tried to belong to both groups. When the birds were victorious, he would wing around, trying to chirp and tell everyone that he was one of them. When the beasts won a battle, he would walk around them assuring them that he, too, was a beast. But soon his hypocrisy was discovered and he was rejected by both sides. In fact, he had to hide himself, and now only by night can he appear openly.

Hypocrisy is like a pin: pointed in one direction but headed in another.

Hypocrisy and honesty are twins. Live your life so thatyou may honestly say, "What you see is what you get!"