Waiting For The Last Bus
Yesterday Haddington Serious Book Club discussed Waiting for the Last Bus:Reflections on Life and Death by Richard Holloway He is sorry that he missed so much while he was in the midst of it.
Today I comb through scores of emails that slipped in the queue. One is this treasure from South Africa's Bishop Eric Pike. It speaks for itself.
‘O Lord my God I cried to you;
And you have made me whole.’
(Psalm 30:2)
My bone marrow invaded by malignant cells.
My blood counts all awry.
Referred to Dr Neil Littleton and his team at Provincial Hospital,
‘I cried to you O Lord, my God.’
For years, blood counts, chemotherapy and visits to Dr L and his team
became a regular but memorable routine as
‘I cried to you O Lord, my God.’
A Shingles virus attacked my head and eye
the pain was intense and
‘I cried to you O Lord, my God.’
Pneumonia invaded my lungs
St George’s Hospital became a safe haven as
‘I cried to you O Lord, my God.’
All the while anointing with holy oil and the prayers of Your people
became my sure refuge as
‘I cried to you O Lord, my God.’
The Oncology Center and its ‘drip room’
became a place of needles, drips, chemotherapy and of hope as
‘I cried out to you O Lord, my God.’
Months in semi isolation became another refuge.
Joyce, with loving care, always my rock and my shoulder to lean upon as
‘I cried to you O Lord my God.’
Ecoli bacteria invaded my lungs and again St Georges was a safe haven.
‘I cried to you O Lord, my God.’
Medication, supplements and anointing with prayer by Your people
became a way of life and all was in your hands as
‘I cried out to you O Lord, my God.’
Wells Syndrome, with its painful skin lesions
invaded my body until I learned to live in Your rhythms as
‘I cried out to you O Lord, my God.’
Finally, Dr Littleton and his splendid team pronounced my blood beautiful!
My bone marrow was functioning!
I was filled with gratitude for the medical profession,
for the prayers of Your people and to you O God as
‘I gave thanks to you O Lord, for you are good.’
Months followed, my blood remained beautiful!
Together with Joyce, our hearts overflowed with thanksgiving,
our eyes with tears of joy,
our spirits soared in praise of Him who is our Saviour and our Lord.
The refrain from our lips rang, and still rings out
‘O Lord my God I cried to you;
And you have made me whole.’
(Psalm 30: 2)
‘O give thanks to the Lord for he is good;
For his steadfast love endures forever.’
(Psalm 106: 1)
By God’s grace, the tide has indeed turned,
the pilgrimage continues and…
‘I will walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.’
(Ps
