I was in hospital, having had pneumonia. My body, mind and emotions had all hit a 'wall'. I'd had lunch, was sitting quietly, began to feel emotional, looked up and saw a lady standing in front of me. For a moment, I thought she was a nurse of some sort.
She leaned forward and quietly said, "My name is Julie and I'm one of the hospital chaplains." I looked at her, took hold of her hands - and cried and cried and cried. After a short while, I asked her if she would talk to me about herself so that I could become calm again.
She told me a little about her life and family until I was able to ask if she'd brought me Communion. She had. She said that I didn't need to say the responses; she would say them for us both. That in itself was beautiful. It was as if an angel stood before me and brought Jesus to me. I cried and listened and received my Blessed Lord from her hands.
Afterwards, I told her of all the thoughts that had come to me, lying in bed, during that time; of God, of the Trinity, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. She said that she felt privileged, or some other word like that, to have shared them. We talked of our families. I was conscious that she had others to visit. So we parted. It was the most beautiful Communion of my life.
Jesus was with me the whole of the time that I was in hospital. All the things that I had allowed to overcrowd my brain had been silenced. There, I could hear his voice, telling me many wise things, talking to me, showing me how his hand had guided me. I will not allow anything to come between us again.
I had allowed myself to be brought to a full stop. He brought me through the valley of the shadow of death. His crook is preventing me from going astray and his staff is gently guiding me in the right direction.
I went to sleep that night with the words of the psalm in my head.
You, Lord, are my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures
where you give me repose.
Near restful waters you lead me to revive my drooping spirit.
You lead me along the right path.
You are true to your name.
If I should walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
you are there with your crook and your staff
with these you give me comfort.
And comfort, that Wednesday afternoon, through the hands of Julie, I was given. It has not left me even now, 5 weeks later. Thank you Julie. Thank you, God, for sending her just when I needed you.
Amen.
