Categories: uncategorized
Date: 02 July 2006 21:22:33
Dad is feeling stronger ... but in more pain.
The sickness is not so great (especially now they've put him on some new tablets - what a fight we had about that) but he's sleepier and suffering greatly, both with an increase in the old pain and a severe new shooting pain which is rather ominous.
But he's so well. We were looking at some photos which we've taken in the last few weeks and he certainly doesn't look at death's door, despite having a clear cancery look to him. And on Friday I was kept on my toes all day because every time I turned my back he was up out of the chair and making a bid for freedom to go and do some gardening (a delight to see him so positive and active, a scare to see him taking big risks and without his frame to support hiim - how do I get through to him that taking his frame when he doesn't feel the need is just as important as insisting the children wear cycle helmets even when riding on our little road where there are rarely any cars???)
In other news, I thoroughly enjoyed the service today, taken by our new minister to be, which bodes well. I was rather shocked by the congregation, though. They are normally so welcoming but today I was shocked. The sermon was about showing the world that we are not judgemental, that only God can judge, and that His love is free for all who will accept it. In the congregation we had a chap who was clearly mentally ill and distressed - a visitor whom nobody knew, covered in tattoos. He sat for a coffee after the service and nobody went to join him at all. I sat and chatted with him for ages and listened to his story (obviously not mine to tell here) but, apart from the minister, was the only person who spoke to him at all. And when he left, the stewards were monitoring his movements to make sure he'd left the premises and were disconcerted when he sat on the church steps to light a cigarette. Surely I wasn't the only one who listened to the sermon? Perhaps my experience at the prison has helped me overcome a few of my prejudices, though I know I still have many, to my shame.
But hard to reconcile a congregation who are very much family to me acting so unwelcoming to a stranger in our midst.