May 26, 2021 (Wednesday)
I am at home recuperating from Demand Ischemia (heart racing that deprives the heart of oxygen). I had an “attack” on April 24 for two hours followed by days of shortness of breath and finally went to the local ER on April 28, where they said I had had a heart attack and sent me to the hospital by ambulance, where I stayed for four nights, coming home May 2. While in the hospital my cardiologist performed a heart catheterization that revealed no blockage and also showed that the nineteen-year old stent I have is working perfectly. I have been to the cardiologist two times since coming home and will see him again June 3. He is experimenting with drugs I take to see if one of them may be the cause of my shortness of breath. I have home health care nurses and physical therapists checking on me.
I wrote blogs ahead of time through May 13. On May 14 I wrote a blog explaining why I would not be writing blogs for a while. Another blog, written beforehand, about Pentecost, was published May 23. I hope today will be a new start on the blogs, because I am feeling better each day.
The Apostle Paul had an illness that seemed to come and go. He called it a “thorn in the flesh.” Luke, a gentile, who later wrote the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, met Paul at Antioch of Pisidia and accompanied him on his missionary journeys. No doubt he cared for Paul whenever his physical problem reasserted itself. Paul wrote that he prayed for the illness to be cured, but he also had a doctor. That’s the experience of most folks who get sick. We pray for healing, but we also see doctors and take medicine. The greatest lesson Paul gained from his illness was the Lord’s message to him, “My grace is sufficient for you.” That’s the lesson many of us have learned along life’s way.
I have no doubt that God performs miracles of healing, but those experiences are rare. Meanwhile, as we pray, we take common sense steps to see the doctors and take the meds, also going through whatever types of rehabilitation that are prescribed.
In four months, I will be 90 years old. I have been very fortunate to continue an active ministry and a normal life until now, even after angioplasty in 2002 and cancer treatments for several years. The Lord’s grace is sufficient to see me through the tough times. Others that I know have been suffering unimaginable pain and other problems for years and my experience is nothing compared to theirs. Yet as believers we trust the Lord and depend upon His help in our daily lives.
Thank you for your prayers and friendship. We will understand it all better, by and by.