When Death Entangles...

This week has been a week of bad news... no actually tragic is the correct word to describe it.

I'm still pretty devastated about my ex-pastor's death. Then of course there's Gabriel who's currently eating everything organic and is refusing any medication treatment (eg. chemo) as if he undergoes chemo, it's basically downhill from there. The doctor's giving him 6months to live. His girlfriend Betsy is left with the hardest job of all and that is to fly back to Melbourne to pack all his stuff up as well as to sell his car because they all know that Gabriel will never return to Australia again.

The next tragic story I heard this week was from Cam who told me that our mutual friend Frankie (who's 24y.o) just recently lost his father. His dad had a major accident at Fosters (where he works) and basically was left unconscious until hours later someone had finally found him. But, it was too late. The lack of oxygen meant he fell into a coma. What's more was that while his dad was still in a coma, Frankie had to make the phone call to his bro (who resides in the States) to tell him to come home immediately to see his father for the last time. So before his bro even had the chance to get on the plane, his father had died... What devastation to the human heart.

After all these bad news this week, I couldn't help but feel anxious, sad, extremely sensitive to people. So on Friday arvo, I returned to my office after a meeting that went from 12-4pm to find my mobile and landline had around 5 missed calls and 1 voicemail. It was my dad. He said 'Mei, pls ring home immediately'. When I heard it, my heart sunk. It was pounding so hard as my dad had never rang me at work. What's more, my dad's voice was calm and very serious. Every thought went into my mind. Was it mum? was it my bro Al? was it my other bro Kev? what's wrong? When I had finished dialling home, dad picked up immediately. I expected the worse but (a good but) only to hear him say 'do you know where Kevin is?'. I exhaled with a great relief....

Finally, today at noon, I went to Yinz place as she's just got back from Mumbai. I thought I'd get some tips on how India is like before I go next Sat. Anyways, I also asked how her birthday was. She told me it was a memorable day alright. Her mum had collapsed at her home's front yard. For the first time in her life, she had to ring the ambulance. Yinz was with her brother at the time and she expected the worse. She thought her mum had suffered a stroke. Really thank God it turned out ok. Her mum had actually reacted bad to pollen and as a result her BP dropped significantly. If it had gone any lower, there would've been more permanent consequences...

What a week it has been..

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me..." Psalm 23:4