“You’ve great heart”, I said to him.
Truth told, I didn’t know what to say or how to say it. He’s in his early twenties and has been in hospital since the summer of 2015 with a serious illness. His eyes were so bright as we spoke, he looked at me in a way that was, at once, humbling and frightening. Humbling because I knew I’d find it very difficult to be in his position and frightening because I feared he’d be angry and vent that anger.
“And faith”, he replied!
And faith! I wasn’t quite ready for that. “Did you ever lose it?”, I asked. “Never”, came the instant and deeply lived reply. “It’s just that I was talking to a parent yesterday and we were talking about teenagers maybe losing their faith for a while. Just wondered if that ever happened you or have you always had faith?” “Always”, again his reply was from a place within.
“And”, he continued, “I don’t know why people would blame God for this. It’s not God’s fault. Just one of those things that happens.”
Silence followed. It was needed – perhaps more for me than him.
“Is there anything you’d like – anything I could get for you?”, I heard myself say.
“Pears”, he replied. “I like pears”.
On this day of World Prayer for the Sick, I pray for him and for all who are sick – pears and prayers- reward and healing.
Miracles do happen.