Day eighty

This is my 80th day of being off work. I was waiting for the post to arrive before I wrote anything. I was hoping for another letter from the hospital, but there wasn't one. I have to say that in the 10 months since I first booked an appointment with a GP it hasn't been too bad. There can't be much of my body that hasn't been examined, and as I said yesterday, on the whole I'm not doing too badly.

The pain isn't too bad today and I'm feeling a bit like a fraud again, but as nothing has been treated I cannot assume it won't be back this afternoon or this evening.

I finished reading the "Rules for Holy Dying" last night and one verse was in there twice near the end: James 5: 14, "Is anyone among you ill? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord".

I wonder how often we do this? I haven't received many calls over the years. I have visited plenty of sick people in hospices, hospitals, nursing homes, and their own homes, but they have never called me to go pray for them. Twice in all those years I have offered to pray and my offer was refused.

I remember one old dear in Scarborough hospital. The rail around her bed was filled with cards from family, friends and people in the church. While she was grateful for all the cards, she complained that she hadn't received a card from "The Church". On my way home I called at the senior steward's house and asked her to send a card, and sign it "The Church". Job done!

I remember early in my ministry visiting someone in the hospital and she told me I was the 3rd minister she had seen that day. She was very pleased with the attention. That determined me to only look for those who no one was visiting. That has caused me some trouble down the years, but the neglected, overlooked and forgotten have been pleased to see me.

So, should I call the elders to pray for me?

Who should I call?

Do they believe in healing?

Will they anoint me with oil?

Before I went off sick I was at a Churches Together meeting in Beccles. The people from the Vineyard Church laid hands on me; there was an Anglican who laid hands on me as she prayed in tongues. I have had people tell me by email, text, iMessage, WhatsApp, that they are praying for me.

I have seen miracles; I have experienced miracles.

This is different.

So I wait, but at least today it's not a painful waiting.