Our Wonderful Island Home!
No - we don't live on a cliff! But we do have the privilege of living in a most enchanting isle which is bedecked in the fabulous colours of Spring. The gorse smells of vanilla and is bright yellow, the bluebells are ringing and the hedgerows are awash with colour. No wonder we found the last two weeks in Central London a trial. It is such a joy to be home, and to leave behind the manic noisy throng and fume laden atmosphere of Tottenham Court Road. It is also a tremendous relief to be out of hospital, even if the UCLH is a bright new building and the staff are as good as it gets - there's no place like home.
So my long fast has begun. A minimum of 6 weeks 'nil by mouth'. I am connected to a special pump 20 hours a day which keeps me alive, but nothing will pass my lips for the foreseeable future. This is called 'total pancreatic rest' and is designed to arrest the recurring acute attacks of pancreatitis and lessen the pain of chronic pancreatitis. I hope that it works as the sacrifice involved is enormous.
I am so grateful to all those who have told me that they are fasting with me at this time. Not for the whole 6 weeks, of course, but for a day, or two and three days, so that this period is covered by fasting partners. Now that's what I call 'the local church at work'. Many thanks to you all.
So I am going to try and distract myself from gnawing hunger and the hallucinations of cups of tea and coffee etc. I find tremendous comfort in the presence of One who spent 6 weeks fasting in the desert once. He knows the anguish and shares with me as a fasting partner par execellence. Thank you Jesus!
