Welcome to room #3063 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in downtown Minneapolis, MN. If you’re in need of rejuvenation, renewal, repair or any other “re” – come on in and have a seat.
My original plan was never to discover this ROCKing chair at the hospital. My plan was to travel north for a long week-end to enjoy multiple celebrations with my family – my godson’s confirmation, my mom and I celebrating birthdays, proms, graduations and even Mother’s Day. It promised to be a family fest featuring fabulous fun…until I was loaded up into the back of an ambulance on Friday.
Not much would prompt me to briefly interrupt my blog sabbatical but God’s presence, peace and power were far too awe-inspiring earlier this month to keep it all to myself. I hope this reflection touches your heart in some way. Writing has always been my release when my heart is this full, so here’s the story.
The very long version made as short as possible? By Friday morning severe abdominal pain made it difficult for me to walk, went to urgent care later in the day, Crohn’s Disease had reared its ugly head, obstruction found in small intestine, ambulance downtown to hospital, tests were run, IV bags started pumping, body eventually starts to respond to meds, surgery averted. Kids fly home Sunday evening unaccompanied to meet Keith so they can get back to school – Sean and Lauren make us all proud. I’m finally cleared to try food. Rice stays down then later in the day turkey and mashed potatoes. This is my ticket home. Monday afternoon my sister busts me out in the getaway car and on Tuesday, my official birthday, I fly Delta to arrive home just in time for an extra-special birthday dinner.
In all the pain, commotion and uncertainty of that first night in the hospital, there was one distinct moment in which time stood still.
It was around 2:00 am Saturday morning when my brother Dave arrived at the hospital to relieve my sister Karen, who had a huge day ahead. Dave and his wife Ann had packed a bag of basics for me. I gratefully dug through the bag searching for the toothbrush and toothpaste and – BOOM – there it was. A Bible with a sheet of paper tucked inside…a copy of the exact Scripture listing I’d sent to Ann back in 2006 when she battled and beat cancer.
God decided to boomerang His perfectly customized Truth back to me when I needed it most. And it was just in time. My attitude and hope had raced south as fast as the ambulance. My new reality was so surreal my mind couldn’t keep up and a frenzy of fear had gripped me.
The frenzy came to a screeching halt in an instant when I picked up the Bible and the page of scripture references. In green highlighter…and hand-drawn hearts, Ann brought my specific attention to these three verses on the page:
“Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.” Matthew 9:22
“I have heard your prayers and seen your tears. I will heal you.” 2 Kings 20:5
“God is within her. She will not fall. God will help her at break of day. Therefore we will not fear.” Psalm 46: 5, 2
The tears came. My diet was restricted to ice chips but here it was – abounding soul food in my hands.
Over the next few days, in between cozy visits with my parents and family, I ROCKed in my chair with the ROCK Eternal. He held me close and wrapped me in His Word. He led. I read: “Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the ROCK that is higher than I.” Psalm 61
And He did lead me to a higher place as I “looked to the ROCK from which I was cut and to the quarry from which I was hewn.” Isaiah 51:1
He said “I have told you these things, so that IN ME you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 And He went about restoring my “IN ME” peace. He always keeps His promises. “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the ROCK Eternal.” Isaiah 26:3-4
As my spirit was soothed, I slowly gave myself permission to unplug completely from the world. So did God. “In rest and repentance is your salvation. In QUIETNESS and TRUST is your STRENGTH.” Isaiah 30:15. He quieted the big life decisions I face with assurance that “whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” Isaiah 30:20-21 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8
When all was said and done, I walked out of Abbott Northwestern Hospital late Monday afternoon anchored in the Truth that “As for God, His way is perfect.” Psalm 18:30 The enemy came “to kill, steal and destroy.” He was defeated. “I have come that they may have LIFE, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
In Christ alone, there is victory. Every time. In every “911” situation. In every ordinary day. In every circumstance. In every Word of His Truth. In Minneapolis I experienced family at its finest and was fed beyond measure. His Word is LIFE. Get some.
