Silverlinings (for other editions, see Silverlinings )

Could It Be Possible?
(March 25, 2007)

Ring around the rosiesPocketful of posies
Ashes, ashes
We all fall down…

As I wearily walked to the podium to give the commencement address, I kept hearing my granddaughter Hannah singing over and over, “We all fall down.  We all fall down.”  I could see the headlines in the next NCN E-News:  Missionary Falls off Platform Following Graduation Speech.   

I made it through the address, only to be called up again to receive gifts from the students and faculty.  Exhausted, I tried to concentrate on what the presenter was saying as she gave me my gift, but her words just blurred together.  I continued to force a smile, while my stomach persisted in turning somersaults.  

A few minutes later the academic dean asked me to come forward again; this time to shake hands and give a gift to graduates as she called their names.  As I stared out at the audience, I observed cameras aimed at the stage.  I imagined my tired body sliding down and off the stage, sprawled out and squirming on the ground.  I feebly demanded my body to pay attention: “Don’t slump; don’t collapse—it won’t be a good picture.”

For a student there are few events as important or memorable as graduation, and I was so relieved that I had not ruined the day for the students at Luzon Nazarene Bible College!  The emergency room doctor said all the suffering was just an intestinal infection and I would recover with antibiotics, electrolytes, and pain medication.  And she was right, I soon recovered.  But I think it also had to do with prayer.

I had received so many emails from family and friends who said they were praying for me—Roberta, Jerry, Linda, David, Debbie, and you—so many of you praying and believing that prayer changes things.  And all my friends in the Philippines, surrounding me with hugs and prayers, texts, emails and telephone calls, lovingly saying, “We are praying for you.” 

Could it be possible?  Could it be that a handful of people here and on the other side of the world can affect my personal life?  Yes, it is possible. 

Pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. (James 5:16b NLT)

- Geneva Silvernail

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Dr. Geneva Silvernail

Asia-Pacific Regional Literature Coordinator
Regional Education Consultant

Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary
Ortigas Ave. Ext. Kaytikling, Taytay
1920 Rizal Philippines

Email: gsilvernail@apnaz.org
ministry@genevasilvernail.org