Things I learned in the Hospital (Part 1 of 2) God’s word amidst my suffering.
Feb 5, 2013
random
Posted by
Dale
A swath of orange and red cut across the Wichita skyline as I awoke in my hospital bed. As colors broke off from the clouds over Douglas Avenue and into my room at Wesley Hospital, dozens of verses of scripture came to mind giving me comfort, peace and reassurance. The Lord was with my in my travails and the Son had risen with healing in his wings. Weeping had lasted for the night but joy came with the morning. Dear God. Thank Your for Your comforting word.
Two weeks ago I was having stomach pains. I know you know how this ends so you probably think they were really bad.
Nope.
Just uncomfortable. However as the days progressed, so did the pain and eventually I awoke Tuesday morning with a new pain in my lower right abdomen. This was not a gluten pain. This was not, I ate 3 servings of China-Go, pain. This was a call the doctor pain. After a few tests it was confirmed that my appendix was unhappy with me and he wanted a new home. I was rushed to the hospital where they prepped me for surgery. When I woke up without my appendix I was not happy but I fell asleep quickly. When I woke up the second time I apparently told everyone how awesome I felt and I also told some visiting friends some rather awkward stuff. That night my wife took my phone so I couldn’t post anything on Facebook in my “drugged state.” I think a nurse gave me my computer and I ended up sending a bunch of emails on behalf of shine like stars for our Summer tour. (Jeez, I should probably look back and see what I wrote.) Anyway, The next day I felt a little bit better and thought I would be on the quick road to recovery.
However as the day dragged on I started to feel worse and worse. When meeting with the doctor I was told my appendix actually burst while in surgery filling my body with a level 5 infection. D’oh. So close yet so far. Soon my body was draining out all kinds of awesome infection and I was beginning to go to a terrible, dark place. If people were talking in my room it made me sick. If someone bumped my bed it made me sick. If I turned on the TV I felt sick. If I moved I felt sick.
Tell that appendix who’s boss
This was feeling dire and it lasted at it’s very worst for about four days. Four days of no hope. Four days of agony. Four days where I could not and would not talk to my children on the phone. Four days where the very sound of music made my eyes shut. I screamed and moaned away everything including food and even my friends who came to visit. (Sorry!) Despair was the only way to describe it. I knew not when it would end and I felt like I was only getting worse.
There was no way I was reading my Bible during this time. But I DID get better and eventually went home.
Once home I was struck by this revelation: If the Bible were not already hidden in my heart, this would have been a much worse trip. Many of us take God’s word for granted and believe we can read it any time we want. I am here to tell you that may not always be true. The Bible is God’s word to us. Read it now while you can. Read it whenever you can. We live in a society were we are free to read it. Take advantage of this gift. There are people groups in the East who cling to one hidden piece of scripture.
Without having read the Word many times I am not sure how would have interpreted those beautiful lights breaking through my hospital window. Would I have seen them as beautiful and continued to agonize? Would I have shut the windows? Probably.
Tonight you have the ability to hear from the Creator Himself. Take advantage and enjoy. You never know when you will need it.
-Dale
P.S. We are stoked to be playing the Of the Rescue CD release party this Saturday night. (2/9 at 7pm) Most likely I will still be sitting because of my infirmity but we are still going to have an awesome time! Please check our tour page to see more information about this gig as well as a few awesome ones coming up. This is an exciting time for our worship band and we hope to see many of you out at the next Shine Like Stars event. You are great fans and we love you.
Tags: God's word amidst suffering, reading the Bible when times are tough
February 5th, 2013 at 3:27 am
Thank you for sharing this. I recently had a talk with a friend who said they did not have to memorize any scripture because they can just pick up the bible. I told them I wanted to have His Word permeate me and become part of me so that it lived in me. I never thought about it like you put it – that I wouldn’t have access to a bible. Very eye opening and convicting of my great need to spend more time in the Word. Thank you.
February 10th, 2013 at 5:46 am
…”Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Just thanking God for His healing & redeeming power, the truth of His word and the rest we find in Him. I love the CD. Thank You.
February 22nd, 2013 at 3:20 pm
It’s a snow day in Southern Illinois! I turned on GMC and there was Shine Like Stars playing “The Overflow”. What an awesome song! I love it’s sound, it’s words, it’s beauty. I will be purchasing your album. I pray that you fully recover quickly from your appendix bursting.