A timely reminder

Last time, I introduced that I was going to have a series of blogs on things I’ve learned after some time away.  While I am certainly anxious to continue down that road, I want to put a pause on that, because today I am remembering – and celebrating – an event that happened on this day, two years ago.  Back in September of 2023, I went to a hospital emergency room; for three days, I was in that hospital.  I could go on and on describing the various details, but the bottom line is I was very sick, and not all that far from death’s door.  However, on 9/3/23, it was determined that I was able to leave the hospital, and finally return home!  What bliss washes over me, even now as I contemplate all this again, how exquisite it would be to sleep in my own bed again! 

I can’t recall if I ever shared this story in this blog before, but even if I did it is worth repeating.  Back in June, I brought up that the film “Batman Begins” was turning 20 years old (I’m still not sure how that is even possible; times flies).  I mentioned that this film has a very special place in my heart; and it does for many reasons.  However, one reason has nothing to do with the actual movie itself; it is because, two years ago today, as I was rejoicing in that hospital room that I was able to go home, the film that was playing on TV was “Batman Begins”.  I was praising God that He had used so many in the medical profession to save my life.  Like Bruce Wayne’s journey was continuing, so was mine.

There are certain milestones in my life that annually I celebrate; these events highlight the gift of life.  For instance, every April 24th, I celebrate that God, as a baby, healed me from a horrible disease that either murders its host, or leaves them a vegetable for the rest of their lives.  On April 24, 1982, God gloriously and miraculously chose to heal me from that disease.  Now I have another milestone event to celebrate: two years ago, the Lord chose to heal through the gifts of talented doctors and nurses.  I will forever be grateful.  The Bible says, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were in your book before one of them came to be.”  It is a joy to consider how God has chosen to give me life to this moment in September of 2025.

In conclusion, let me answer the question of 'so what?'  Why bring all this up today?  As I once heard a preacher declare, looking back at what God has done in the past is a reminder of His faithfulness.  Lamentations 3 puts it this way: “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”  We tend to forget how God has shown up in the past.  I know this is true for me.  Most of 2025 feels like it’s been continuous stormy weather, and it’s easy to feel shaken.  Nevertheless, when I look back at everything the Lord has done in my life it serves as a timely reminder; it reinvigorates and reenergizes me.  When I look back at the storm of September 2023, and how God got me through that, it reminds me that He was faithful to me then, He will be faithful to me now, and He will be faithful in the coming days.

Kevin