Faith and Miracles

“GOD BLESS THE DOWN TRODDEN,” I said quietly and feeling sorry for myself, along with being a little nervous over what I was about to face. I was heading for surgery because of a back injury that affected both it and my legs. The only problem is it could leave me permanently paralyzed. Maybe I shouldn’t be taking that chance. So what if I ever walked again. Who cared anyway? I don’t want to go through the pain and work in physio- therapy for a maybe nothing. Going into a deeper self-pity, I heard the door of my room open.

“Well THERE’S NO TURNING BACK NOW,” I thought as two nurses and three doctors came in for a final chat to make sure I understood everything that was about to happen. They asked if I had any questions and I just nodded no, but they knew I was frightened and concerned.

Dr. Gerry smiled sweetly and said, “Remember Nancy, when we became doctors we took an oath to do our best. UNITED WE STAND each time we go to that operating room and also,” he added holding up his hands, “these are God’s instruments and we do our best for Him to help all His children.”

I smiled back and said to them all, “I believe you will and I HAVE MY FAITH TO SEE ME THROUGH anything I must endure. I’ll do my best with you.”

My last thought before being put to sleep was, “God be with us all.”

Weeks of pain, struggles, and mood swings in physio slowly gave me progress. My back and legs became stronger each day as I prayed for strength to continue.

The time came when I could finally go home. I was so tired, but happy and grateful to all of God’s servants who helped me to walk once more.

That night, I was asleep before I knew it, but awake again long before dawn. I stood looking out my little bungalow window which led into a beautiful large field. I watched the last few stars disappear AND THEN THE SUN BROKE THROUGH in all its glory and I thought “THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND Nancy and God gave it to you to fully enjoy,” and that’s just what I did all day. I took a lunch with me, walked around as my eyes took in every beautiful living thing that I came in contact with.

“He really can perform miracles, both with, and on people, as well as the world around us if we only stop to see them.” I happily thought to myself, “and from now on I’m going to enjoy every one of them.”

Serta Sheep 1: “Well, I guess there’s no turning back now!” He looked around at his fellow Serta sheep. Some had stood on their hind legs and were touching hooves with their nearest left and right fellow sheep, forming a chain of solidarity. Some were milling around. Some were holding signs that said, “I’m a spokesperson – hear me speak!” or “No shearing without representation!” or “I’m NOT a Serta sheep. I’m a free agent!” or “No more advertising without pay!” etc. Some were talking amongst themselves. Some were giving live interviews to the media. Some were trying to hold back the crowd, erm, mob.

Serta Sheep 256: “God bless the down trodden.” She looked around in sorrow at the sheep lost underfoot, and thought tearfully about how many times they had tried to speak up on issues from parenting to religion, only to be pigeonholed as nothing more than the Serta sheep and utterly (udderly?) not paid attention to.

Serta Sheep 29: “What am I doing here? I wanna go back to cracking jokes, making people laugh, and being media darlings. This is getting scary.”

Serta Sheep 98 (erm, George, as his oversize nametag proclaimed): “I have my faith to see me through. Even if I die for the cause, I will speak. After all, we are U.S. citizens. God will help us succeed in claiming our rights and standing up for ourselves.”

Serta Sheep 77: “This land is your land! We have a right to a union, we have a right to be paid, we have a right to become Sealy sheep if we want to, we have a right to express our opinion peacefully! That’s what this demonstration is all about – taking back our rights. Be darned if I’ll be silent anymore. And especially, I’ll never submit to shearing for part of a pillow or bed again. My family could use the wool for blankets!”

Serta Sheep 1: “Yeah! United we stand! We can do this guys.”

And then the sun broke through the clouds, shining on the sheep like a spotlight on stage. Coincidentally, or maybe not, formation of armed services after formation of armed services converged on their sheepish group. There were cheers when it was announced that they were there to support the troops so to speak, to join in the peaceful demonstration and make sure no more sheep were sacrificed. It was a sign, some of them thought – a sign they were being heard, a sign they would win. A sign that they need cower no more in private, putting on their cheerful media faces in public. And for today, it was enough to keep them going.

United we stand because this land is your land. I used to think I have my faith to see me through, aAnd then the sun broke through. There is no turning back now. God bless the downtrodden.

I suck.

The two survivors huddled together through the cold , long night.

The sting of the winter rains ached their bones [and then the sun broke through] the cloudly mist.

“[I have my faith to see me through] what ever comes my way,” one survivor said.

“Indeed said the other, [“God bless the downtrodden!”] He has kept us safe through the night. We stand united and [united we stand] and give Him the glory.

The two survivors broke out in song, [this land is your land] , this land is my land, from California, to the New York Island.

“Let’s say we get moving and travel on before the next storm comes,” said the first survivor. “We’ve come this far

[there’s no turning back now!]”

It is lunchtime in the heart of Africa in the midst of summer. The scorching sun sizzles on our skins. But there are no regrets in our hearts, this is for a good purpose. And for discovering another one…

Besides, there’s no turning back now.

We are a small group of handpicked people from around the world, Bill from the USA (Missouri), Jack from Australia (The Outback), John from the UK (Scotland), Mohammed from India (Chembakolli) and Bruce from Japan (Tokyo). Oh and off course me, the only female. My name is Anna and I am from South Africa. As you can see, we are all from completely different backgrounds and cultures.

We are here to save another small group of people, but I am not allowed to say who they are, as it is a top secret mission. I am not even allowed to say in which country we are. But yesterday we passed a little village where I have seen the worst poverty ever. And that is why I am writing this piece. These villagers are the outcasts of one the local tribes and have been beaten and ‘punished’. God bless the down trodden. I was so saddened by the scene that I couldn’t sleep last night. Neither could the others.

And today I know the reason why I landed in this mission was to find my next one. To save these demoralized villagers from their frightening bullies. I know it’s not going to be easy, but I have my faith to see me through. Even if it’s the last thing I ever do, I am going to return to this village.

Last night as I was lying awake, all I could think of was the faces of these villagers. They have broken spirits, yet they are kind and in a different way strong. To them there is no hope to escape their lot in life, yet there is anticipation in their eyes. But what stood out most was their hospitality. They had nothing to offer, not even fresh water or open huts for us to sleep in, but they offered to accommodate us. They even said to us ‘this land is your land’.

Before Dawn this morning when we got up to get ready for our day, I heard that the others were also tossing and turning throughout the night thinking about the same. They confessed to me that the scene at the village was as distressful to them as it was to me and so we all agreed to come back to save these villagers.

What makes this more precious is that we are from around the world, but we are standing together as one! And right after agreeing to our next mission before we left off for our long hike into the unknown we exclaimed: “United we stand!” Our hearts were happy, there was another purpose on the horizon. And there’s a mutual passion amongst us. Saving people in need.

And then the sun broke through…

No, It sounds sinister, almost like getting up the duff or something if you think hard about it!!!