• Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Ministry in Media
  • Ministry of Reconciliation
  • Ministry of Presence
  • Events
  Arthur Rouner Ministries

ARTHUR ROUNER MINISTRIES

On Feeling Good

1/10/2019

0 Comments

 
Written on Monday, January 7, 2019:

Today I came home feeling good from being "out and about."  It is a strange, intangible sensation. Feeling a little bit stronger.  Feeling a tiny bit exhilarated.  Feeling somehow not so tired.  Hard to pinpoint.  Hard to define.

During my twice-daily VEST chest-thumping treatment, I've been lately reading Billy Graham on "Nearing Home."  A lot about old age, and the process of getting there.  Of the things you can't do any more - but also the things of the Spirit you are drawn toward doing.  A kind of wisdom into which you come, that you can actually pass on to others.

In some ways it's been a little more of old age than I wanted to hear.  Some of that concentration can get you down.  He even wrote about the tendencies toward depression of some older folks.

But, for me, the whole day turned around.  A phone call reminded me that at 9:45 am I had a toenail clipping appointment.  I quickly ended my vest-pounding treatment, jumped into my clothes and hurried downstairs. 

My sweet practitioner washed my feet.  It reminded me of the thousands of pairs of feet Molly and I had washed during our Pilgrim Center healing retreats in the genocide countries of Africa over the 23 years we were working regularly in that ministry.

Then my over-long toenails were clipped.  Then filed. Then washed again.  Sort of a healing exercise in itself.

Then upstairs to finish morning meds, a piece of toast, a bit of milk, and then off to Park Nicollet for my INR blood draw.

Suddenly one of the young men of our Advent 7:00 am Bible Study at the Hilltop Restaurant was standing before me.  He'd brought his mother for her blood test.  I knew all was not well between mother and son.  "Look Mom, who I found here," he said to his mother, "Arthur of Colonial.  Maybe he would pray for us."  She grudgingly brightened up.  I prayed for the peace that passes understanding to be upon them.  An indirect prayer for reconciliation.

Then, I was on my way, realizing that meeting was not an accident.  It was a "divine appointment."  Perhaps the joy started within me then.

Out at the Flagship some of my coughing came on.  "You all right?  Want some water?" a stranger in the locker room said.  "Oh, I'm fine.  It's chronic."  He disappeared and then reappeared.  "I'm a poor listener," he said as he handed me a cup of cold water.

Then a former parishioner approached me.  "Got your glasses?" he asked.  "I'll read this to you" - from his iPhone. The day's faith reflection from my friend Steve Moore who sends out his word of encouragement daily to hundreds, perhaps more, across the country, if not the world.  A shout out about a "great Minnesota pastor" who had taken many cold Minnesotans to Africa to help the poor of the world.

What a surprise.  A quick affirmation, in a public place, from a friend on the Way.

Upstairs another coughing, and a young woman bore down on me from across the gym.  "Are you all right?  They told me you're an old regular here.  You're...How old?"  She was a cardio-therapist and wanted to help.  We talked.  I explained.  "I'm Heather. We'll meet again and talk sometime."

Several of the little contacts with friends ensued, and finally I was home.

Something was happening to me.  I confessed it to Molly at dinner.  "I feel kind of good.  Sort of exhilarated.  Lifted.  Not tired.  Alive, and glad to BE alive.  I think I'm feeling even stronger."

Well, who knows.  All I know is there was a difference.  It is lasting into the evening.  I found I wanted to write about it, to say to my friends who might read this: "You know, He comes.  He really does.  He flings an arm around us and lifts us up.  He lightens the load.  Mysteriously.  A visitation of the Spirit, working through a handful of people who attended me.  Almost angel visitants who helped this old guy have joy on a drab day, and have his heart lifted, and his body lightened, and his spirit filled with hope.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Arthur A Rouner, Jr -
    Minister, Author, Leader of Forgiveness and Reconciliation Retreats, Minister of "Presence"

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. . ."
                                                                    2 Corinthians 5:18

Contact Us

>    Call the Faith Line for a daily message:  952-946-7987   <                                                                                    
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Ministry in Media
  • Ministry of Reconciliation
  • Ministry of Presence
  • Events