Thanks Giving

I'm pretty sure that I've heard more than one sermon preached about the many stories of Jesus healing people, and how none of them seemed to stop and say "thank you" – as far as the Gospels tell us. I've always wondered: How could they do that? How could they not stop and express gratitude?

Well, tonight I'm feeling a bit like those ingrates.

Several of you have followed the wacky story of my sudden-onset paralysis of my right hand. The last post I provided was back on Oct. 19, after I saw the docs at Wash.U. I talked about how – the next day – my nerves/muscles seemed to be jumping on their own accord. And I told you the doc had outfitted my right hand with a splint to give me some more control on my fingers.

Shortly thereafter, things began to improve dramatically. To me, it seemed like the jolts of electricity they injected during the EMG seemed to "jumpstart" my nerves and muscles again. Things began working better. Last weekend, I flung the splint aside in disgust, because it was interfering with my mobility more than it was contributing to my motor control. That was a very good thing!

Now I can report awesome improvement! I didn't realize how much things had improved 'til someone else pointed it out to me. I can keyboard about as fast as before. My hand and fingers are operating pretty much like before. I have a little weakness in my wrist, but nothing I can complain about. I can at least hold a coffee-cup again. And I can use my right hand to brush my teeth again. That works for me!

I've focused here on the medical side of things. But those are not the things that have felt most important.

More important have been the many notes I've received from you all – that you are praying for me individually or in your parishes. Those notes meant the world to me. It was overwhelming to know that people literally all over the Episcopal Church were praying for me. I was and am profoundly grateful.

And very important was that my own parish gave me a prayer shawl. Our parish started a prayer-shawl ministry over a year ago. I had observed and applauded that ministry. But it was amazing the day they gave one to me, and when I enfolded myself in it during the days and nights when I felt so darn scared and frustrated. There really was something comforting and healing as I enfolded myself in those lovely purple threads.

Last week, I asked our parish to take me off the prayer-list. I am essentially recovered. I felt enfolded in your prayers, and I do believe they worked a miracle of healing in me. I will never be able to tell you how grateful I have been for your many prayers.

And so I come back to you, the body of Christ, to say a very profound and heart-felt "thank you."