Thoughts from Room 387

This week’s guest blogger is one of my good friends and ministry colleagues from the days of CASA Network. John Coulombe is the Intergen Pastor at EVFree Church in Fullerton CA, where he has faithfully and creatively served for over thirty years. He and Jacque mean a great deal to hundreds of men and women who look to them for godly “perspective.” Written in 2006, “Thoughts” has resurfaced as Jacque deals with recent physical challenges. Remember John and Jacque in your thoughts and prayers as you read—

–John Coulombe

While lying in a hospital bed at St. Jude in August of 2006, I was given the privilege of time to re-evaluate my life and life’s work. I discovered that when one’s body is broken, many values change: that which was so important no longer is; and that, which meant so little, strangely means so much.

In the middle of the night I spent some precious moments reviewing my outlook on life—and death. When I woke up the next morning I wrote them down, realizing opportunities to think like this are rare and greatly stimulated by being at and in this kind of place.

Here are some of those musings:

God is in control. I’m not. – Trust Him. Ps.115:3.

God is not in a hurry. I am. You’re a patient, so be patient. – Slow Down. Matt. 6:25-34.

Center your heart on the Lord’s, rather than on your own broken-down heart, John – Focus on Him. Col. 3:1; Phil. 4:6-7.

In the hospital there are always people worse than you. – Pray for them. Reach out with a word if you can . . . the man dying a few rooms up . . . people groaning and crying out in the night with pain . . . those too weak to get out of bed. Rom. 12:9-21.

The continuum of life is always present in a hospital. I heard Brahms Lullaby in the hallways each time a baby was born, and there were little groups of people singing God Be With You ‘Til We Meet Again and I Come to the Garden Alone in the rooms of their

dying loved-ones. Celebrate both life and death. 1 Cor. 15.

Be grateful for small things, like when you can empty your own ‘water’ unassisted! – In everything give thanks, with joy. 1Thess. 5:16-18.

Consider how good it is to have a life partner and friends who care, who sit quietly by your side, kiss you when you’re unlovely, sneak in treats and walk alongside you in the hallways in those embarrassing gowns. Never take friendship for granted. Rom. 12:10-13; Rom.16; 2 Cor.7:5-7.

Another insight/end-sight: those hospital gowns are like insurance policies—neither covers you as well as you think!

It’s time to make preparations to clean up and pull together the papers, the will, the photos, the details of our lives, both for here and the life to come. Is there anyone whom I need to forgive and make things right?

– Get it together. 1 Cor. 14:33.

– Prepare to meet your God. Amos 4:12.

Someone needs to set the clocks, work the PDA,VCR, DVR, DVD, A/ C, computer, sprinklers, balance checkbook, wash clothes, cook, lube car... Teach one another how—now.

No matter how inept hospital personnel and doctors can be at times, remember—you could be in Nigeria. — Be grateful for what you have. Phil. 4:11-14

Enjoy the little things in life: a cup of Starbucks coffee smuggled in by friends, a real strawberry milkshake with whipped cream and a cherry on top from Jack-in-the-Box. – Savor the moments and drink slowly.

Don’t waste the precious pressures or stresses or try to get back to normal too soon. – Let the pressures conform you, transform you and make you more Christ-like. – 2 Cor. 4.

Keep finding your sense of humor and joy. It’s better than some of

the meds you’re taking! – Be Happy. Prov. 17:22: A cheerful heart is good medicine.

Be patient, and hospitable with the hospital personnel who care for you throughout the long days and nights— even though they may not do it perfectly. – Be kind. 1 Cor. 13:4; Eph. 4:32.

And finally: Above all, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life! – Guard your heart! Prov. 4:23

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So, when you head out for your next routine health checkup or you’re somewhere on a hospital bed recovering from surgery, take John’s “perspective” with you. And remember, God is good. All the time.