A Reconciling in Christ Congregation
A Local Miracle
On July 5th, Pastor and I brought our dog, Belle, our beautiful friend as we call her, to Tri State Veterinary Medical Group here in Port Jervis. She was scheduled for her annual examination and round of shots. Dr. April Koich, in examining Belle's tummy with her skilled hands, asked us if Belle had eaten that morning and "been to the bathroom." We answered no food and yes. Dr. Koich had felt a lump and ordered x-rays. Our nearly thirteen year old Belle had six x-rays and an ultrasound test that confirmed a tumor in and on her spleen. The treatment was to surgically remove the spleen. Over the next days Dr. Koich and Dr. Nancy Hallam - Smith explained that this kind of tumor is cancerous 97% of the time. The likelihood was great that the cancer would pop up again in another organ in weeks or months. Considering surgery at Belle's age, I was reminded of a prayer taught to me by a priest a few years ago, good for real hard things, and for when you don't even know what to ask for - think of the thing and pray "Come Holy Spirit. Amen." The priest said she believed the prayer is calling down, in faith, the greatest power in the universe, like a hurricane in a bottle!
I prayed!
July 14th, Dr. Lauren Alex performed the splenectomy. Belle came home the following afternoon with no pain medication, because of her age, and with evidence of a large incision on her belly. Belle took it easy and healed well while we waited and waited for biopsy results. We prayed. A few days after the surgery, thinking of the extreme likelihood that cancer was coursing through Belle's blood stream, I silently asked "Dare I?" I put my hand gently on Belle's healing incision, and thinking of the cancer (97%!) said "Come Holy Spirit! Amen."
I was at my Mom's in Rockland County on July 27th, when Pastor sent me a text message at 2:06 PM: "The Vet called. No cancer!"
The flurry of texts, emails, and Facebook posts between me, my daughter Jennifer in Florida (the one who first brought Belle home from the shelter) and members of our congregation, and community were endless for the next few days! So many people had prayed for Belle!
Pastor reminded me that sometimes God says no, and sometimes God says not yet. I say that, considering 97%, or a 3% chance of a positive outcome at best, God said YES! I say that we didn't need that 3%. All we needed was a mustard seed sized faith, and the mountain, or tumor moved, and so did the cancer! I am grateful for Drs. Koich, Hallam - Smith, and Alex. I am grateful for everyone's prayers. I am grateful for my beautiful friend, Belle. I am grateful for the gift of faith.
In this year when my daughter got joyfully married to a man I love, when I have seen wonderful reconciliation for me and people I love, when my oldest friend, a great artist, contacted me and reconnected with me, I say that this was yet another miracle!
Open my lips O Lord, and my mouth shall proclaim Your praise!
Come Holy Spirit! Amen.
William Kauffman. Artist in Residence. St. Peter's, Port Jervis.