Heart thread - 06/30/2009 - updated

From David@Montreal:

I know it's been a while since you've had one of these from me-
let's just say that Life and the search for livable employment in the current economic situation have kept me rather busy, especially as my own financial resources start to narrow.

But this evening, our Mam spoke with my much loved cousin Frank, who you might remember is still undergoing the course of his gene therapy for lukemia. Close to a month ago Frank was also diagnosed with c-difficile and was isolated at home as the hospital was already overwhelmed with other cases of this. Frank's situation however became serious enough that he was rushed into hospital by ambulance where he's been for some time. The c-difficile's still not beaten, but they've sent him home again, and before he went to bed, he insisted on calling our Mam, to give her news, but also to ask her to pass along his personal thanks to 'all those incredible prayer partners of David's. Tell them, sometimes when it's been going on a little too long, and been a little too much, the thought of them is what's had me draw my next breath.. Tell them thank-you, Auntie Marion. I know it's not enough- just thank-you. But thank-you.'
As you might remember we're also waiting for 'the other shoe to fall-' the inevitable effect of the imperfect 9/10 genetic match, so I'd ask your prayers for Frank, and for Carol his wife who is exhausted and a little raw right now.

I'd also ask prayers again for Crystal, a young woman who has known incredible abuse, illness and suffering in her life, and who is once again hearing voices.

Prayers please for Patrick, a confused & tormented young man in Arkansas, who has made one suicide attempt in the past, who appears to be seriously depressed; and whose Pentacostal Roman Catholic family have turned themselves into an approximation of a closed cult in reaction to the news that Patrick might be gay.

Prayers for the people of Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan & Pakistan, and for the work the Holy Spirit is slowly bringing about in Islam.

Prayers fplease for our dear Barbara C, an incredible paliative care nurse, who may have to undergo surgery for a muscular tear in her right knee which currently has her on crutches.

Prayers please the repose of Deenie, who sounds like the time of person I would have loved to have known. Civil rights, womens' rights, LGBT rights; Deenie made all of these her personal issue, and after a very long course of cancer, Deenie passed this week in Boston, Deenie's deep friendship with our incredible Jane spans decades, so I'd ask prayers for Deenie and our Jane.

Prayers please for Sr. Ellie, and for all those unknown others who suffer spiritual and emotional violence within our Church.
Prayers also for their abusers.

And speaking of the America Church, I'd ask your confident prayers of hope for those dear to us who will be heading to Anaheim in less than a week. most particularly our LGBT brothers and sisters who once again muster such generous good will under the care of the Holy Spirit, to once again speak truth to power in our Church. Most especially I'd ask prayers for Gene , Elizabeth, Susan and her Sweetie Pie who has done some incredible video segments on Full Inclusion. They go with my great love and gratitude.
But I'd also ask prayers for our wonderous allies- the likes of Bishop [Bruno] of L.A., Bishop Ely of Vermont, Mark Harris, and for the Great Katherine herself of course.etc.etc.etc.

I don't know if any of our American brothers and sisters are aware of this, but in a strange way this is also our General Convention in the rest of the world- in that as members of the Body of Christ the outcomes of Anaheim will have very real, prophetic & personal repurcussions of countless Anglicans throughout the world, and none more so than our LGBT brothers and sisters of faith.

A certain dear brother, more than once has written to remind me that we are a people of hope, and it is in that hope that I'm asking prayers that those gathered in Anaheim might prove themselve capable of the great grace and truth, the great vision and courage the Holy Spirit is calling us all to embody in these times.

Thank-you - with a deep bow, thank-you.

You have no idea the difference your lives your prayers, practice & friendships make.

Among bishops who are our friends and allies, I should like to add all the bishops of the state of California, especially Marc Andrus, my own bishop of the Diocese of California.

UPDATE 1:
I forgot to add this, which I saw at Mimi's:

Dear Friend’s brother-in-law, Jim (the one with the brain tumor), has been admitted to the hospital with a blood clot in his left leg. Jim was paralyzed on his left side by the intracranial bleeding he suffered a few weeks ago. They are now admitting him to the hospital for a few days and plan to treat him so that the clot does not travel to his lungs. There is a possibility there is already a small clot in his lungs because he does not seem to be oxygenated enough. We will know more tomorrow.

We were able to visit with Jim and his family this past weekend. They are holding up well under a tremendous amount of stress—but they could use some help. I would appreciate the OCICBW community’s prayers for Jim, Ruthie, and their two young sons.

Pax,

Doxy

UPDATE 2:
One of my nieces and I just became friends on FB. I was scrolling down her wall and found this:

Would like to ask for prayers for some friends of friends. One month ago we attended a wedding in Las Vegas and in that wedding was the cutest little curly blonde headed 3 year old girl. On Father's day the dad took her camping with him and shot and killed her and himself. Please add the families to your prayer lists. [Story at the Phoenix New Times]

O Christ, our Morning Star, Splendor of Light Eternal, shining with the glory of the rainbow, come and waken us from the grayness of our apathy and renew in us your gift of hope.
—St. Bede the Venerable

This prayer, in the original Latin, takes the form of a three-dimensional carved and gilded wood illumination that hangs behind the tomb of St Bede in the Galilee Chapel of Durham Cathedral.

--the BB