Anticipation

Many of you no doubt remember the old Carly Simon song, Anticipation. I like that song. I remember the anticipation as our family looked forward last year to going to Disney World. You know the anticipation of Christmas morning. Sometimes the anticipation is almost as good as the event itself. Almost!
In my case, the anticipation of test results from my hospital stay this past weekend isn’t quite the same as looking forward to Disney World. But I can say this week has been a week of good things. Times of rest, times with my family, times of reflection and the verse one of my children reminded me of while I was in the hospital has become more real to me than ever. No wonder it’s my favorite verse in the Bible.
Isaiah 40:31 “They that wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings as eagles. They will run and not be weary. They will walk and not faint.”
The anticipation of test results due tomorrow aren’t daunting at all. I have this perfect peace that is not easy to explain other than to say, when you know in who’s arms you rest, you can wait it out and know He has been there before you and already has it all figured out.

A Pause To Reflect

Maybe you’ve been there. The run, run, run of your life is suddenly interrupted. You may see it coming, you may not but none the less, life is interrupted. It happened to me this week.
As I write this entry, I’m sitting in a hospital bed, interrupted unexpectedly. I’ve felt a lack of energy lately and frankly got a little weary of hearing more and more people telling me that I looked somewhat gray and lacking color. So off to the doctor I went this week for a check up and series of tests. Come to find out, my hemoglobin levels are extremely low and I was in need of a blood transfusion. For someone who is never sick, never spent a night in the hospital (expect to be by my wife’s side when our babies were born), this has been an strange experience. I’m used to being the one leaving the room and waving good-bye to someone else. Not this time. I feel fine, have no pain and as yet the doctors don’t know what the problem is.
But I write this as background only to say that times of reflection are good. Don’t get me wrong, I really don’t like being here and the uncertainty can be un-nerving, the reflection time is good. One of my daughters gave me a hand made get well card and on it she wrote my favorite verse in the Bible. It comes from the book of Isaiah, chapter 40. You really should read the whole chapter sometime. The chapter concludes with verse 31 which says, “They that hope (or wait on) in the Lord will renew their strength. They will sore as with wings of eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.”
You ever get so busy making the most of your day, running around and working to make use the sun before it sets that you never take time to look up at the sun and appreciate the fact that you’ve been given another day to enjoy it?
Boy, I appreciate and love my family and in times like these, I’m directed to pause and take the time to thank God for all He is, all His has given to me and blessed me with and renew my strength to leave this hospital in His time to make the most of and appreciate my Creator and the gift of life He has given me.
Carpe Diem!! Seize The Day!! Until next time........