November 13, 2019 – Click here to listen
So yesterday I woke up and my head was spinning so fast I began to think it would twist off. I’d never experienced vertigo and I did not like it. I was nauseated beyond the pale and could hardly walk. I went to the doctor and almost threw up on him during the examination. I’d experienced a vicious headache prior to the vertigo, and he was concerned that I might have had a stroke. My left ear had been hurting over the weekend and I felt I was getting an ear infection and possibly my inner ear might be causing it. Today I go for a CAT scan for the stroke angle and an eye, ear, nose doctor is checking out the inner ear thing.
I prayed quite a bit about it yesterday and today I only have slight dizziness and hopefully it is just an anomaly of some sort and will soon be forgotten. The doctor was grilling me on the medicines that I take daily and there are two pills for high blood pressure, four for macular degeneration, and one for skin cancer. I couldn’t hear what the doctor was saying and finally told him I was hard of hearing. He shouted that he was asking about other maladies I might have, and I told him I had a ruptured disc in my lower back too.
I said, “It looks like I’m breaking down doc.” He was half my age and smiled and said well I think we can keep you around for a few more years. My wife was totally freaked out about the situation and I reminded her that life was short and full of trouble, but luckily was like a vapor and soon would wisp away, but there is absolutely no doubt I will see Jesus and have a mansion in heaven. I suppose my effort at comforting her had the opposite effect and she gave me one of those “looks.”
I honestly don’t worry about death or dying. I’ve faced it head on more times than I can remember, and it passed me over. Not that it will continue to do so mind you, but it is not a fearsome event to someone with faith; at least it isn’t to me. People sometimes say I’m weird for my viewpoint of death and maintain it isn’t “normal” not to fear it. I cannot speak to the norms, but I’m in good company. The Apostle Paul famously longed to leave this earth and go to be with the Lord, but nonetheless was committed to continue with his evangelizing ministry to the Gentiles.
I’m reminded of Lot’s wife. God was leading them away from the destruction of evil in that wicked place and told them not to look back. She did and was turned into a pillar of salt. We should not long to remain in this sinful world one moment longer than God intended. I’m not going to hurry the process because as long as I’m alive I know my purpose has not been fully accomplished. Once it is fully accomplished He will take me to be with Him.
Knowing peace and even joy in the midst of serious trials is one of the benefits of being a follower of Christ. Jesus told us not to worry and that it is a sin. Just keep plugging away my friends and let the chips fall where they may. We are in good hands and we know that we know that the Lord loves us more than we can even imagine . . .
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.