Often people wonder how I get m connections to people in pain and especially to those who are terminally ill. It is indeed a marvel to me how these people come to my attention. The person I visited for the first time last evening (June 1), is a prime example of the circuitous manner in which we are introduced. Let me tell you the story.

Several years ago a former parishioner of mine, Jim, called with the distressing news that he had developed a cancer that was determined would take his life within a few months to a year. I visited him faithfully until he passed away. During the time I visited him he told me about a Hospice visitor he had coming to the house. The man from Hospice had heard about me through Jim and wanted to meet me to hear more about my ministry. I arranged a time for us to meet and eagerly looked forward to the meeting. Jim had told me many favorable things about this person.

A few weeks later I finally met with Bill and we had a delightful conversation over lunch. He was a fine Christian man from the Church of the Nazarene. We shared much in common as we swapped stories of our experiences with people. Bill was a retired business man who had been exceptionally successful. He enjoyed his retirement greatly and was putting his time to good use helping others. In various ways he encouraged me to continue in my work. Over the past several years we have known each other we have enjoyed fine times together.

A couple of weeks ago Bill told me of a friend of his who was a member of Bill's golf and country club. This man was very successful in a privately held business and was concerned for his employees welfare. This man had described to Bill a story about one of his faithful employees whose wife was slowly dying of cancer. The man whose wife was dying was a very fine person who was deeply grieved about his wife's condition. He did not know which way to turn for help with his problem. Bill told the employer about me and my ministry to people in pain. The employer was immediately interested in the possibility of me helping his employee.

Within a few days the man was contacted and he was very willing to have me contact him about a visit. I called and arranged to come that very night to see him and his wife in the hospital in Oakville. When I entered the room I heard music from the 50's playing quietly and the man immediately got up to greet me. His name was Al and his wife was Mary. I spoke to him for a few moments and let him tell me the story of their journey through suffering. Many tears were shed and it soon became obvious that the man loved his wife dearly.

Then Al took me to the bedside to introduce me to his wife. Mary seemed to be semi-conscious and I spoke quietly to her about the Lord. I suggested to her that it was clear she had a medical problem that she could not do anything about but had to come to the hospital to have the doctors take care of her. I then said we all have the problem of sin and need to present ourselves to the Lord to have Him do what we could not do for ourselves. It is a simple analogy and I use it regularly. I do not know if she understood or not but I then quoted a verse of invitation to her and prayed, commending her and her husband to the Lord. Al laid his hand on my back and wept quietly as he heard his and his wife's names mentioned in prayer.

As I was getting ready to take my leave of them, Al reached out and gave me a great big bear hug. He was so appreciative of the attention I was giving him and his dear wife. I left the hospital so thankful that people such as yourselves support me and Susan in our ministry to those who suffer silently. People with little if any resources to help them in their time of need. It was a long road from my former parishioner to me to get help to Al but it was well worth the trip.