I've got a bit of a sore throat- simple words, and words that for most people don't set alarm bells ringing, warm drinks, simple pain killers and all will probably be well....
... not so with Chris- his heart condition means that minor infections can turn into major problems very quickly- so we were straight on the phone to make him a doctors appointment, we have learnt over the years not to ignore the smallest of symptoms....
... this has been part of life for the last 21 years, soon he will have to learn to cope with this on his own- although we will be only a phone call away. Letting go in his case will be hard.
Life is fragile, today we were reminded of that again.
Living with long term illnesses makes you aware of human vulnerability and the inevitability of death on a daily basis... it is not something that can be ignored or pushed to one side- questions that lie just beneath the surface come quickly to mind.... those words " I've got a sore throat" trigger thoughts of could this be it....
... I am not being morbid, simply honest, vulnerability in this way forces a reaction to life- and I am pleased to say that for Chris this has meant a decision to live life to the full... too many people retreat into a cosseted world and live but barely live when faced with their own vulnerability.
As we enter Maunday Thursday it occurs to me that Jesus could have avoided this week, he could have withdrawn completely, spent his time with friends and family- refusing to enter Jerusalem...
..he knew he was vulnerable, he knew what was coming- but he did not stop preaching, he did not withdraw....even in the garden he wrestled his fears and chose God's path in order that we can enter into the fullness of life he has won for us....
Chris challenges me by his willingness to do this, so often it is easy to choose the comfortable path, the easy road, to neglect the possibility of living in the fullness of life.... in doing so we become centred upon ourselves- and push aside the world and its needs- in doing so we turn away from Christ who embraced the difficult road for us....
I've got a sore throat- those words woke me up to life this morning more surely than the sunrise!
