Tracey Chapman sang "... if I had the right words at the right time.. you'd be mine" and numerous other have tried to find this powerful combination. I remember being thrilled (I know, I'm such a nerd) to learn when I studied Anthropology that Shamanism, wtichcraft and other sorceries are just that, people trying to find the right word at the right time. Impossible to do without power or chance - so the effort goes into convincing others that they have this power and can therefore chant their words and all will be well. The right word at the right time can lift spirits, raise hope, encourage, empower, and put the zing back! The aim is basic to many therapies and treatments, and we all want to do it.
This all came to mind because at This Time in My Life, I find many people giving me if not always the right words, certainly the best intended words, which actually makes them right. Whereas I know that many times in my life I say the wrong word at the wrong time, and occasionally the right word at the wrong time.
Take today. I've been doing pretty well on the chemo - level 3 and 4 nausea, diminishing daily, stomach cramps up and down , but on the whole, survivable; hot and cold episodes diminishing, fatigue, extreme, but reducing. I anticipated driving into town this morning to work. But my heart seemed to think it should gallop a bit, and my breath was short, and my brain was dizzy. Better lie down. After a while I decide I should read my Side Effects and What to Do book - oops these ones mean call the hospital. So I did. When I got the nurse, she was more concerned that I was crying like a baby than that my heart was racing. "you're crying, why are you crying?" I don't know! major embarrassing! She coldly concluded I should go to the A&E and think about anxiety meds. Huh! My PS came in very concerned that I'd cried, and suggested hormones or nerves. "Nerves! why would I be nervous?" "Well that's what you always say to me when I'm upset!" Touche, I said, for once saying the right word at the right time, to my PS who has chronic pain, and a lot of the same side effects from his meds, as I'm having now. If only my illness and discomfort could take his away.
So feeling thoroughly disturbed in body and conscience, I rested for ages and began to feel better as the afternoon wore on. (In all the sleep I've been having, I have been dreaming very strange things, mostly that aliens are running around inside me shooting things up, and in the dreams I keep asking: what's happening, why am I here now, why is this going on now? and similar questions.) I sat up feeling much better and read Our Daily Bread. I used to read this a lot, and felt that I could put in a bit more of an effort in my Bible studies, but since This Time, I've found it very useful to revert to this easy access to Bible verses and simple homilies, especially now you can get it online! Today's homily was this:
"Sometimes we need a little raking and turning in our own lives to make us bloom. Writing to the harassed believers in his day, Peter said, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice” (1 Peter 4:12-13)."
The right words at the right time.
Grace, unto you and peace be multiplied... kept by the power of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment