As today is Good Friday, I was looking forward to being able to post something pious about Jesus' sacrifice, it would seem that God had other ideas - he decided instead, to humble me.
Ironically, I didn't have to choose whether or not to eat meat either (Something Fishy Going On? - Thursday 6th April 2007), because it seems I managed to pick up a 24 hour bug... a really nasty one. I will save you the gory details - I'm still not quite right, even now.
Being ill meant having to miss out on the March of Witness, something that I take great joy in doing every year - naturally I was disappointed. I did seriously consider going anyway... but my stomach was having none of it. I was so bad , that I was totally dehydrated. I dragged myself to the local supermarket and bought some medication for my tummy... and two large bottles of water. I got home, clambered into bed with a hot water bottle and thought... "game over" as I slipped into the realm of the unconscious.
Now I woke up, just a few hours later... and something really odd happened. I had regained consciousness in time to see "The Prince of Egypt". There are a couple of key sequences in that film, that really stir me. Today... they shook me as well. I was watching Jethro (voiced by Danny Glover and Brian Stoke Mitchell), sing his song "Through Heaven's Eyes" and all of a sudden I was totally choked up. Tears streamed down my face as I wept openly (something that seldom happens to me), I also found myself laughing in places too. I always get moved by the burning bush sequence that follows immediately afterwards... it always seems as if God is trying to say something deeply personal through that.
So it was, that I found myself completely moved in this manner, until the end credits rolled by. I honestly don't think I would have appreciated it so much if I was in full health. Don't you find that sometimes it seems that God slams the brakes on, so that he can have proper time out with our hearts?
Not all tears are evil, not every hardship we suffer is negative.
I don't feel miserable at all, or despondent. I feel both humbled and grateful to have had such an experience. If I really wanted to tie this in to Good Friday, I could easily point out that any suffering on my part today is incomparable to what Jesus went through, just under 2,000 years ago.
There aren't that many videos on YouTube for "The Prince of Egypt", otherwise I'd be saturating you with them right now - my fervour seems that stoked up. However, I am conscious that some people reading this, may be feeling crushed and broken in spirit themselves. Maybe you came here and your faith in miracles and divine goodness has been bruised, broken or shattered. So I offer you one of the films most poignant songs - "When You Believe":
Ironically, I didn't have to choose whether or not to eat meat either (Something Fishy Going On? - Thursday 6th April 2007), because it seems I managed to pick up a 24 hour bug... a really nasty one. I will save you the gory details - I'm still not quite right, even now.
Being ill meant having to miss out on the March of Witness, something that I take great joy in doing every year - naturally I was disappointed. I did seriously consider going anyway... but my stomach was having none of it. I was so bad , that I was totally dehydrated. I dragged myself to the local supermarket and bought some medication for my tummy... and two large bottles of water. I got home, clambered into bed with a hot water bottle and thought... "game over" as I slipped into the realm of the unconscious.
Now I woke up, just a few hours later... and something really odd happened. I had regained consciousness in time to see "The Prince of Egypt". There are a couple of key sequences in that film, that really stir me. Today... they shook me as well. I was watching Jethro (voiced by Danny Glover and Brian Stoke Mitchell), sing his song "Through Heaven's Eyes" and all of a sudden I was totally choked up. Tears streamed down my face as I wept openly (something that seldom happens to me), I also found myself laughing in places too. I always get moved by the burning bush sequence that follows immediately afterwards... it always seems as if God is trying to say something deeply personal through that.
So it was, that I found myself completely moved in this manner, until the end credits rolled by. I honestly don't think I would have appreciated it so much if I was in full health. Don't you find that sometimes it seems that God slams the brakes on, so that he can have proper time out with our hearts?
Not all tears are evil, not every hardship we suffer is negative.
I don't feel miserable at all, or despondent. I feel both humbled and grateful to have had such an experience. If I really wanted to tie this in to Good Friday, I could easily point out that any suffering on my part today is incomparable to what Jesus went through, just under 2,000 years ago.
There aren't that many videos on YouTube for "The Prince of Egypt", otherwise I'd be saturating you with them right now - my fervour seems that stoked up. However, I am conscious that some people reading this, may be feeling crushed and broken in spirit themselves. Maybe you came here and your faith in miracles and divine goodness has been bruised, broken or shattered. So I offer you one of the films most poignant songs - "When You Believe":
Now that I've had some spiritual nourishment through this experience, it would be nice to be able to eat something solid again... all in good time!
I pray that God touches your heart over this Easter holiday, that you may be blessed and comforted... whoever and wherever you may be.
Hope you're feeling better today Nick. Have a great Easter!
ReplyDeleteI hope you are now recovering well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind thoughts people, I feel much better today.
ReplyDeleteActually, I have to say... having looked back of that photo I took of myself the other night in church... I don't think i looked well there (that is apart from the fact that I somehow look like a depressed silverback gorilla).
ReplyDelete