No news

... is not necessarily good news...
Pads coped admirably with the MRI scan yesterday again. It does involve a needle and lying still for 40 minutes in a noisy close-fitting cylinder.
But we won't hear about the scan results for a few days. It depends on levels of staffing in the radiology department. Anyone with a grain of knowledge about the physiology of the brain would have looked at the previous May 2010 scan and said, 'that doesnt look good'; but the official interpretation of the pictures is the province of the radiographers.
I think the well-wishing of the last few days has been hard for Pads and mum. Many have expressed their concern, affection and assured us of their prayers. We've also been promised some 'crossed fingers', although well meant and warmly recieved, this activity does strike a Christian as sort-of odd. I'm not too sure what the act of crossing fingers adds to the situation when the Almighty is intimately involved, but, of course, it is hard for anyone to know at all what to say in these circumstances...
Of course a certain amount of blame is aimed at this blog, for raising general awareness and expectations of staying informed about Pads and what we're all up to. But really, we know that people are genuinely concerned and are longing for us to have some good news. Sunday morning sermons have been a tremendous help, as ever; speaking directly into our situation, allowing us the freedom to 'Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.' (Phil 4:4). As the pastor pointed out, every word was carefully chosen. 'Rejoice'?! in this 'vale of tears'?! Yes. How? 'In the Lord'. 'Alway'? Yes. How? 'In the Lord' - the Lord, who,

So loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes on him should not perrish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

That everlasting life has already begun for us. Re-united at great cost, with the God who made us for fellowship with himself.Whatever parts this family, whenever, the God of Jacob is our refuge. And the intervening years will slip by in a matter of a few heartbeats before we're 'forever with the Lord'.