Category Archives: Suffering

Embarassing Physical Exams

Posted on November 9, 2012 by richrockwood

Experience As a Flashlight:   I didn’t mind my office job except for one event that happened each year that terrified me.  Each year I had to undergo a physical exam.  During the exam, the doctor had to check certain parts … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Claustrophobia, Fear, Health, Medical, Memory, Old Age, Perspective, Physical Exams, Retirement, Stress, Suffering, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

They Were Right, But I Only Listened Some of the Time

Posted on October 19, 2012 by richrockwood

EXPERIENCE AS A FLASHLIGHT:  There I sat in the oral surgeon’s chair waiting for his third attempt to clean out a decayed root canal so the pain in the tooth would go away.  On the first two attempts all the … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Dentist, Exercise, Health, Laughter, Old Age, Perspective, Sense of Humor, Suffering, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Music Changes Me

Posted on October 5, 2012 by richrockwood

I probably have my parents to thank for my appreciation of music.  My dad played an upright bass.  My mom loved singing with her siblings and performed with the Sweet Adelines, an international organization of women dedicated to preserving barbershop … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Faith, Feelings, Grief, Heaven, Imagination, love, Music, Perspective, Stress, Suffering | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

I Will Awake the Dawn

Posted on September 24, 2012 by richrockwood

As I read Psalm 57 today, I recognized this line from a song we sing at church:   “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.  Let your glory be over all the earth.” (Psalm 57:5 NRSV).  It’s a song that gets … Continue reading →

Posted in Bondage, Claustrophobia, Courage, Eternity, Faith, Faithfulness, Fear, Grief, Habitual Sin, Meditation, Night, Perseverance, Perspective, Praise, Prayer, Quiet Time, Sleeplessness, Stress, Suffering, Trust, Uncategorized, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Removing a Sexual Sin

Posted on September 14, 2012 by richrockwood

The following words written by the great King David after he had abused his authority over Bathsheba, another man’s wife, by having sexual relations with her.  When he found out she was pregnant, he arranged to have her husband killed … Continue reading →

Posted in Bondage, Eternity, Faith, Forgiveness, Guidance, Habitual Sin, Laughter, Meditation, mercy, Peace, Perspective, Prayer, relationships, Repentance, Salvation, Sex, Stress, Suffering | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Lord’s Compassion is Over All He Has Made

Posted on July 30, 2012 by richrockwood

“The Lord is good to all,  and his compassion is over all that he has made.”  (Psalm 145:9 NRSV) What a tender picture these words convey.   The Creator extends his arms of  compassion over all: men, women, children, pets, … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Creation, Eternity, Faith, Faithfulness, Fear, Forgiveness, Grief, Guidance, Heaven, Laughter, Meditation, mercy, Night, Peace, Perseverance, Quiet Time, relationships, Suffering, Trust, Uncategorized, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God is Praised to the Ends of the Earth

Posted on July 25, 2012 by richrockwood

As I read the verse below I was struck by the idea that God is known and praised all over the earth. “Your name, O God, like your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth.”  (Psalm 48:10 NRSV) That … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Faith, Faithfulness, Heaven, Laughter, Meditation, Nature, Perspective, Praise, Quiet Time, Stress, Suffering, Trust, Uncategorized, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Deeply Grieved…Even Unto Death

Posted on July 23, 2012 by richrockwood

According to the account, the man told his companions exactly what he was feeling:  “Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death”  (Matt 26:38 NRSV) It is hard to imagine that Jesus of Nazareth, whom we … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Faith, Faithfulness, Grief, Guidance, Heaven, Perseverance, Perspective, Prayer, Sleeplessness, Stress, Suffering, Trust, Uncategorized, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Lead Me Lord

Posted on July 16, 2012 by richrockwood

As I get older, I have noticed it is harder to hear what people are saying.  Sometimes it takes me longer to understand what is happening around me. This is not unlike the feeling I have experienced when walking around … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Claustrophobia, Courage, Eternity, Faith, Fear, Guidance, Meditation, Night, Peace, Perseverance, Prayer, Quiet Time, relationships, Religion, Salvation, Sleeplessness, Stress, Suffering, Trust, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No Rest for the Wicked

Posted on July 14, 2012 by richrockwood

If one regularly watches the news and reads newspapers he or she can begin to think evil is too entrenched for good ever to be victorious.   Will the War in Afghanistan ever end?  Will terrorists ever lay down their weapons … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Bondage, Country, Creation, Eternity, Faith, Fathers, Forgiveness, Guidance, Peace, Prayer, Quiet Time, relationships, Religion, Repentance, Salvation, Stress, Suffering | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment