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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
July 2002 |
My Witness:
Finding forgiveness in a roomful of strangers
By Debbie R. Hall
I do not know why I signed up to go to the recent Laity Retreat led by Bishop Woodie White. Perhaps I just wanted a respite from my chaotic weekdays, time with other adults, or just plain old curiosity. On March 22nd I found myself at the Columbus Center with about 70 other United Methodists. Our venture was to learn more about prayer. It would be a weekend that would define and fine-tune my concept of divine petitions.
We prayed -- for ourselves, for others, for our country, for our pastors, for our governor, for the UMC and the SIC. With prayer candles and fervent hearts, we called on God to join us. He did not fail us. God took a roomful of strangers -- connected only by our denomination partisanship -- and had us share our concerns, our victories and our healings. We listened, learned, laughed and connected to our Heavenly Father through stories, song and Scripture.
I think there were many good moments for me as a Christian. But as a person, this Friday and Saturday would prepare me for Sunday. As I returned to my home in Indianapolis, all the tales of healing would hit me at once. By Sunday evening, I was in Methodist Hospital hearing a very grim diagnosis about my mother. Funny, I had never fully understood healing. I finally 'got it' thanks to Bishop White and my counterparts. I claimed the healing that my life had known, even though it could not always be retold with miraculous medical wonders. Sometimes healing came in the words of another, saying, "It's going to be all right." And realizing that it may not be "all right" in this lifetime, but healing was imminent.
I left hopeful, inspired and prayerful. This great God meets me where I am, helps me sort this life out on paper, and makes the journey well . wondrous! I am so very blessed to be his child, disciple, little lost lamb. And if I ever need to draw closer to him I now know that the distance between God and myself disappears in the utterance of a prayer. The risen Lord stoops down to my level and hears my every word, and that of all creation. What a Mighty God He is! Especially when my pen captures the contents of my heart:
Last updated on 01/14/2004Healing
Healing. It is not a yes or no. It is not a treatment that fails or succeeds.
It is not about a clean bill of health, remission, or cure.
Healing is a miracle.
I used to say, "We did not get our miracle."
But miraculous events happened which made us heal.
In the physical brokenness of another we became whole.
Healing comes. Perhaps not in the this lifetime, but we all are able to be made whole through Christ.
God the Great Physician never refuses a case;
He does not pronounce us dead or ever end extra measures to keep the heart beating.
God heals. He scoops us up and blows the resurrecting breath in our face.
His peace pulsates through our very being and pain is replaced by joy.
Crushed spirits lay in nail-scarred hands and by His touch the spirit soars.
God heals. Sometimes from the edge of a hospital bed a church pew, or an unlikely place such as a mall or office restroom. He finds us where we are. It is that simple.
And yes, he heals us as we are hunched over in the corner of Heaven.
We will -- beyond a doubt -- be healed. Made complete. Renewed. Whole.
Well.
Never, never, question the healing.
It is coming.
Debbie R. Hall is a member of Otterbein UMC, Indianapolis East District.