Thuds and Thrills

 Well, in the words of the writing workshop that I just led yesterday, let me introduce you to the use of “the hook’.

Borrowing from a famous author, I could describe this last week as “the best of times; the worst of times”. Makes you want to keep reading eh?  

Last Sunday, as you were reading my blog, my sister and I were enjoying a sunny little hike to a lookout in Kauai, Hawaii.  She, husband and son joined us for a few days before we did Tony’s Discipleship (Anagaion) conference here, at the invitation of Puna Baptist Church on the Big Island of Hawaii this weekend.

The trail was not difficult.  It was listed as having “roots and being occasionally muddy”…  no sweat for a 75 and 81 yr old.  After all, we grew up in Colorado, this was a walk in the park.  So being the always trailing behind younger sister, I ‘helped’ her by giving her a hand thru a steep and a bit roughish patch, and she carried on. Then I began then to wobble …… and weave……and then somehow I was airborne!  I remember hitting my head at one moment thinking, “Oh that can’t be good” and then I landed at the bottom of the hill, sort of like a carp. I might have been flopping, I can’t remember.    

I know I felt much thinner, thanks to what felt life a caved-in side (maybe more like a flounder?), and I couldn’t get my breath.  Of course, Sherry raced back up and tried to reassemble me as best she could.  I finally stood up, checked the obvious, head and shoulders, knees and toes, and was able to get my breath, which felt sorta crucial.

Long story short (is it?), a day later Tony insisted that I go to the ER since (1) he was sick of all the moaning, and (2) we’re due to fly in a few days, something you don’t want to do under certain medical conditions. 

Sure enough, I have two broken ribs and a bruised liver ……… As I’m sure a lot of you already know, they don’t treat broken ribs very much anymore. No wrapping, since that promotes pneumonia. “What about ice? Hot packs?” I asked. “Sure,” he answered. “They won’t do any good, but if it makes you feel better…” At the end of the day, it seems, nothing much will help except ibuprofen and time.

Thankfully, we all survived, and felt we had a wonderful time with the family.  Please pray especially for my nephew. You’ll remember he lost his wife to Covid about 5 or 6 years ago and it’s been a hard slog raising two boys with all their needs these last few years. He’s dreaming of starting a Men’s Bible study for excellence in being men of ‘salt and light’; warriors for God.  Let us know if you have any suggestions and I’ll have him reach out.  (I’m guessing the studies themselves will be online and the conferences, etc will be in the Idaho wilderness area.)  

Now it’s Sunday and we are done with the conference, Most of you are just waking up, so you’ll have time to pray for us here still in Hawaii, where Tony’s preaching and then we’re beginning our trek back home!!

As always,  keep your eyes on the goal and have a blessed day.  I like my friend’s advice, “Wake up every morning and ask God what He has planned for you to do today!”  (Personally, I hope it’s not another hike!) 

Marsha. 


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