A Different Kind of Father’s Day

Here in Brazil, Father’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of August – not in June as in the US. So as we gradually worked back into having in-person services, plans were being made to celebrate the occasion at Ebenezer, and I was looking forward to some additional time with our church family around cake and ice-cream after the service.

Alas, that was not to be. On Saturday I started feeling a pain in my right leg. By Sunday morning the pain had intensified, and by Sunday night it was unbearable. A Google search indicated that I was suffering from something called “Sciatica”.

Gritting my teeth, I made it to church and tried to nurse the pain while the others set things up for our outdoor service. After our brief song service I was called up to preach (Pastor Francivaldo is out of town, and I am filling in for him). As I walked up to the pulpit, the pain was making me dizzy – something I have never experienced before. My notes were swimming before my eyes. Somehow – I’ll never know how – I made it through. Then one of our young people drove me home where I fell flat on the bed…and remained that way until the next morning.

The Father’s Day celebration went on as planned, however. Here are a couple pictures from that event.

 

 

By Monday morning I was feeling better, though I spent most of the day resting. As I write this I’m fully functional again, thanks no doubt to the many prayers of the members of our congregation, whose rapt attention I had as I swayed back and forth in the pulpit.

It is moments like these that the truth 2 Corinthians 12:9 becomes especially relevant.

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