With Jesus at the dentist's

My last blog centred on the fact that a visit to the dentist was my "Room 101" experience. This morning I returned for the 3 fillings and other minor work. It was an truly amazing experience! During my time in the dentist's chair I had such a tremendous sense of the presence of Jesus with me that the procedure itself caused me hardly any discomfort. I believe that there were two main reasons for such a sense of the nearness of Jesus.

The first was the knowledge that lots of people were praying for me at the time. Quite a few people, both family and church friends, knew the time of my appointment and had promised to pray for me. Their prayers were certainly answered.

The second reason for my sense of Jesus' presence will take a little longer to explain. Last week I was talking with a fellow church leader who is a former dentist. I was sharing with him my nervousness about visits to the dentist. He told me about a meditation technique which he said might help me. It has to do with recalling a Bible story, and then imagining yourself as one of the characters in the story (I guess that this will work especially well with a story from the gospels, which will almost inevitably include the person of Jesus).

The story I chose was that of the anointing of Jesus by the sinful woman (Luke 7.36-56) I tried to imagine myself in the role of the woman, and I saw that she was probably at least as nervous about entering the house and approaching Jesus and the others as I was entering the dentist's surgery! Everyone present at the meal would have known about this woman's "sinful life"; no doubt many eyes were on her as she entered the room. Most of those in the room would have looked at her in judgement, perhaps wondering how she had the gall to show her face amongst them. But for the woman, the only person whose response she cared about was Jesus. How would he react to her presence?

There is no record of Jesus speaking to her on this occasion - we just don't know whether he did or not. But I am sure that he looked at her. As the woman slowly lifted her head and her eyes met the eyes of Jesus, she was absolotely broken by the pure love and grace which she saw. She began to weep. How can Jesus love me? Doesn't he know about my sinful past? She was overwhelmed by the love of Jesus, the acceptance, the sense that she was precious and valued. She responded in the only way she could, and poured out the sweet smelling perfume on his feet; an act of great devotion from a woman who was broken and yet restored.

As I sat in the dentist's chair, and began to feel something of that same loving presence of Jesus, my heart responded in praise and worship. If my mouth hadn't been full of dental equipment I might even have burst into song! Thank you, Lord, that you met me in the dentist's chair; thank you that in your presence all fear disappears.

Now I'm almost looking forward to my next check-up in 6 months' time!!

Overcoming the fear of Room 101

One of George Orwell's most famous novels was Nineteen Eighty-Four. Written in 1949, the novel describes a totalitarian regime run by The Party. Every citizen is under the watchful eye of Big Brother, and anyone who steps out of line in any way faces the dreaded prospect of Room 101. In Room 101, a person is forced to face his or her biggest nightmare, fear or phobia. In other words, a person must face up to what, in normal circumstances, they would do their level best to avoid. What would be in my Room 101? Almost certainly a dentist's chair!

I suppose that my rather irrational desire to avoid visiting the dentist must relate back to some unpleasant childhood experiences. Whatever the cause, and however much I try to tell myself to stop being so stupid, I have often found that the mere sight of a dentist approaching has turned me into a jellied wreck!

I have managed to avoid the experience for around 8 years. Until, that is, this week. A few days ago, part of a tooth disappeared, and I realised that I could put off the dreaded event no longer. I managed to find a local N.H.S. dentist (rather rare, these days), and went meekly along yesterday. As I was waiting for my appointment, I noticed on the wall in the reception 3 framed certificates. It certainly didn't help my nerves to discover that they were certificates awarded from a course in cardiac recovery (or something similar). I had visions of my heart giving up altogether!

As it happened, I coped rather well with the appointment, and I was very pleased with myself. I was probably in the chair for only about 1 minute. That's the good news. The bad news is that I have to return next week for 3 fillings! Just now the prospect doesn't seem to bad, but I am sure that it will loom larger as the time approaches.

Fear is a natural reaction to danger; it helps us to protect ourselves. The person without any fear would be in very great danger. However, when we allow fear to rule our lives it becomes debilitating and ruins our quality of life. I have heard it said (though haven't checked it out) that the phrase "do not be afraid" appears 366 times in the Bible. That's once for each day of the year, including leap year. God says to us, 'I will never leave you or forsake you.' When we truly trust in him, then even the dentist's chair will lose it's threat. I'll try it next week!

Reflections on Remembrance Sunday

Early this morning I watched part of a Remembrance Sunday service taking place at Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. It was a moving occasion, as the men and women currently serving in the armed forces there remembered friends and colleagues who had either died or been injured in conflict.

I have been thinking back to my own childhood memories of Remembrance Sunday. I lived in the village of Keyingham, which lies on the A1033 main road from Hull to Withernsea. My family and I attended the local Methodist Chapel, but on Remembrance Sunday we joined with the Anglicans in standing around the cenotaph for the two minutes' silence. I remember that the crowd of us spilled out onto the main road, but any cars drivers who happened to come along were very respectful, and more than happy to wait until the ceremony was completed.

Over the ensuing years, I had the feeling that Remembrance Day was not taken quite as seriously, as the generation who actually fought in, or remembered, the world wars were gradually dying off. Then, of course, came conflicts in the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan. Sadly, we are now very used to regularly hearing of further casualties of war.

It is hard to imagine how the families and friends of those who have died or been seriously injured must be feeling at this time. Most members of the public hear the names of people who have died, and may be sad for their loved ones, but then they move on with our lives. For the bereaved, the pain never fully goes away. Their loss cannot be forgotten.

To give one's life for others is the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus himself said, 'greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.' In the midst of this time of great sadness we can remember that Jesus willingly gave his life for us, and for all mankind. Not only did he die for us, but he rose again, to show that death has been overcome. Through faith in him we can have the assurance of eternal life! Yes, when we lose a loved one it is a time of deep sadness. But for those whose faith is in Jesus, death is not the end, but a doorway to a new life in the very presence of God.