I've been asked to write a piece for our Church newsletter about my recent surgery. My instructions were:
1. Take us through your experience.
2. Do it in 600 words or less
3. Can I have it by Friday?

yeesh!

Luckily, I had some time come free yesterday. (It happened right after I got the call asking if I could do this. That sort of thing spurs an entire other conversation...) So, here it is, very much in un-edited form. I Welcome your comments. Feel free to correct my memory of events and to comment on my writing. I'll post a link to the final copy when it gets published.

When Roy Larson offered me this space to discuss the adventure of the past few months, I was surprised and honored. Primarily, I was pleased. I am pleased that I have been given an opportunity to thank you, the community of The Temple for your prayers and support over these past months. Thanks to Rev. Blackwell’s mention of me during the services, many of you know that I had major surgery. What you probably don’t know is that this is my fifth surgery to repair my aorta. I have a genetic disorder called Marfan’s Syndrome which is a connective tissue disorder that affects every system of the body. Most dramatically, it can affect the structure of the aorta, causing weak spots that can lead to a tearing of the inner lining (called a dissection) or even a total rupture. In 1994, my aortic arch ruptured. By the grace of God and expert medical care, I survived. Over the intervening years, I have had 4 more surgeries, but none has been extensive as the one this spring and never have I been as close to death.

Obviously, everyone was very worried. My family, friends and colleagues at Garrett- Evangelical had me on their churches’ prayer chain; I had all my bases covered, Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists and yes, more than a few Methodists, AME, UMC and all our Methodist family were lifting us in prayer. Knowing this was a great help, it helped all of us feel less alone.

One of the most powerful examples of the power of prayer occurred during the bleakest point of my recovery. I was having such trouble breathing that the doctors decided to perform a tracheotomy. I remember very little, I was very sick and sedated. The doctors had told my family that it might be months before I was well enough to walk out of the hospital if, in fact, I ever recovered that well at all.

Before I had surgery, my wife Mary and I were making the arrangements that anyone facing a medical procedure should: power of attorney, living will etc. I told Mary that if things got bad and I was very sick, the UMC Book of Worship had a wonderful service that might make the family feel better. Mary had been in contact with my friends at seminary. Barb faxed it to my parents’ pastor, Rev. Alex Hendrickson, who, being Presbyterian didn’t have access to it. She agreed to perform the ceremony at my bedside. She even had an anointing balm that she had gotten on a recent trip to Jerusalem.

I remember that my whole family, including Mary’s parents and older sister, were arrayed about my hospital bed. They laid their hands on me. Rev. Hendrickson started the service. Despite not being able to speak very well, I mouthed the words with her. She took the balm and made the sign of the cross on my forehead. I remember feeling a wonderful warmth come over my body and a sensation of light going through me, piercing my chest and going skyward. I could actually feel the light! It was a feeling I had not felt before but somehow, I knew exactly what it was. I hesitate to name it for fear of minimizing it, somehow limiting it. It is indescribable, impossible to understand, but I think most call it the Holy Spirit.

Now, despite being in seminary and being a candidate for ordination, I am a bit of a skeptic. I don’t recommend relying on faith to cure disease. I’m a big fan of doctors and am in awe of their skill. I believe it is important to pray but believing that prayer can cure disease is a theological slippery slope that I’m not willing to tread on. But having said that, your prayers and the prayers of the churches of my family, friends and colleagues were heard. While I’m not wiling to say that I was cured by prayer and by the anointing with oil, they made me and the ones I love feel closer to God in their time of greatest loneliness and despair, and it is for your part in that miracle that I can never thank you enough.