Sharon Stone, actress, had a stroke and brain bleed. Today a good friend is in the hospital with a stroke and brain bleed. My sister is out of the hospital but dealing with similar issues. I think I’m older than all of these people so I worry. My life goes on because we cannot sit down and wait for a crisis. Now that Stone is recovered her life is full of art. Apparently, a stoke can alter one’s brain. She is a prolific artist and commented that, before her stroke, most relationships had been transactional with loyalty lasting only as long as usefulness. Stone also warned that if you bite the seed of bitterness, it never leaves you. She has made many changes and seems happy about them. A stroke is a health crisis but I can see how her remarks would apply to any crisis. Our brains may not change but priorities, loyalties, dreams, etc, will likely change. I think of conversions. I have seen preachers give the gospel and demonstrate salvation leading to a change in direction (and then march past the pulpit to the other side as a demonstration). We all have a story of transformation when we decide to follow Jesus. Gains and loses come with our stories. Today I read a piece on hymns. Many are forgotten but others carry us for decades. The question posed is do we need more hymns written going forward. I don’t remember the author but the answer was yes so I opened a hymnal and my piano. ‘Something for Jesus’ was written by Phelps and Lowry. I have to carefully read the notes because my skills are, other than music. To sing the words and play at the same time is a stretch but verse two is worth it – “At the blest mercy seat, Pleading for me, My feeble faith looks up, Jesus to Thee: Help me the cross to bear, Thy wondrous love declare, Some song to raise, or prayer, Something for Thee”. Please pray for the Sharons of the world, Alice P and my sister Teresa.
