singing diary
Previously I’ve written a singing diary item under the name: Blessed are the poor in spirit. However, today’s experience at this assisted facility home in Lakeland really needs that same tittle. Some of the people here seem on the brink of death; others seem so out of it… What a sad little crowd. The room was full of people in their wheel chairs; many of them not in their ‘right minds’, some younger people among them; others more together, but in a state never the less (like limbs missing, or seriously overweight, or spastic, or totally slumped into their wheel chair).
The room doubles as a corridor; there is quite a bit of traffic. Doors are open to other rooms, and a kitchen for instance; as a result there’s a lot of noise coming in. Inside the room there’s a large fridge (I thin) that makes a serious humming noise; some of the people make constant noises. Dear oh dear, my kingdom for a PA system! I really need to bring a PA system into places like this.
For the the hour that I have I’m stretching myself beyond where I’ve gone before. I’m straining to fill this room with the sound of my voice. I can just about avoid going hoarse. Even so, I’m having a great time walking around the people telling the story of Moses & the Hebrews, escaping from Pharaoh’s army through the Dead Sea. A great story, and I have it down to a T (isn’t that the saying?).
People are responding to my work (and the work of the Holy Spirit); this is SO AMAZING! I’m getting bolder & bolder, declaring the Kingdom of Heaven. It’s so clear, when you’re at the end of the journey, like most people here clearly are (even though they may hang in there for another few years), there’s only one thing left to do! GET READY FOR HEAVEN!!! So I declare the Kingdom of Heaven to be HERE & NOW! I declare God’s love for these people, and that HE IS HERE, to touch and heal and give peace of heart and of mind! HE LOVES YOU!
The people present would need a lot of ministry before you could see some real changes. On the other hand, nobody knows what actually happens on the inside of a person. And that’s where it all begins. I notice that about two/ thirds into my set, the place has gone much quieter. The noise coming into the room, doesn’t seem to penetrate so much anymore. Most people present have begun to focus on what’s happening here, either consciously or unconsciously.
When people are mentally in such a bad way (as here) I guess the Man of God (which is me) should just tale authority, and declare these precious but handicapped souls to be entering Heaven’s Kingdom. So I hear myself speak a prayer over the people, saying YES to Jesus, on behalf of everyone present, and THANKING HIM for the sacrifice made, and being the DOOR INTO HEAVEN. Today we walk through the door that is Jesus; we do it together; we do it now! Amen? Amen!
Maybe one day I can return to this place, lay hands on every one, and see people walk out of their wheel chairs, set free from their mental impairment , healed of handicaps, limbs growing back, spines straightening, weight excess dropping off, skin diseases gone etc. What a day that’ll be!
For now I just declare God’s RULE in this place and in these people’s lives. God’s LOVE, God’s PEACE, God’s HEALING (starting on the inside). As I put my stuff back in the car, a member of staff steps into her car, parked next to mine. She tells me that she’s very much enjoyed my singing. I can tell, from the sound of her voice, that she’s been touched.
I imagine that working in a place like this must get to you eventually. You can try to ignore the enormous NEED that people have; try to block it out. But deep down your spirit must be wondering, how is this possible? This is SO SAD, SO SHOCKINGLY SAD, if only you allow yourself to see & feel it. Perhaps you can compare it to walking around starving people in Africa; so shocking; so degrading. No human being should have to suffer this kind of desparation.
It’s the same here really, and I imagine that occasionally the depth of the despair touches you (member of staff) in your place of need. The lady getting behind the wheel of her car had been touched and I think God ’spoke to her’ through it. Back to the Beatitudes! How amazing how Jesus simply turned everything around! And only He can do that. How wonderful that He put words to it, so that we can remind ourselves. He really turns everything around, however desperate we might be. His words are eternal, still echoing down the time line, and hitting the walls of our limitations.
Have FAITH; Jesus makes a way; He’s already done it! (April 24th 2008)
Tags: blessed are the poor in spirit, singing, the beatitudes
