The Citizen, 2019-08-01, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2019. PAGE 17.
By Ernest Dow, Associate Pastor
Huron Chapel EMC, Auburn
How does your belief-system
stand up in the face of life’s most
painful experiences?
Saturday, July 13 seemed to be
proceeding pretty well. I had gotten
some chores done around home, and
later that afternoon was working
through a short ‘honey-do list’ my
fiancée had suggested for me over at
her place. I managed to trim the tops
off some fenceposts using my
chainsaw without getting too
disturbed by the spatter of rain that
passed through. Finally there was
just one item left on the list: set fire
to the ‘burn pile’ that had been
accumulating back behind her
woodlot.
It was a large burn pile, about nine
feet in diameter, having accumulated
all winter long. Conditions for
ignition seemed optimal: the pile
was surrounded by lush green
herbage and a shower had dampened
the surrounding ground. At home I
would have sprinkled on some used
motor oil, but since I wasn’t there,
instead I sprinkled on a couple of
litres of gasoline, which I did not
figure was too much because it was
such a large pile. Having carefully
set the gas can over to one side out of
danger’s way, I leaned over with a
barbecue lighter and – in what
probably classifies as the most
foolish act of this decade of my life
– lit...what blew up in my face like
an incendiary bomb! Apparently
gasoline is not something to use on a
warm summer day because the
vapours are so volatile.
I staggered back, stunned by the
force of the blast. Since it was a
warm day, I was wearing just shorts,
socks and shoes, and my glasses –
thankfully, otherwise I don’t know if
I would have been blinded. My
exposed skin seemed covered with
short brown crispy items - burnt
hair? My chest hair was completely
gone; eyebrows and beard half
singed.
My immediate reaction was to go
and lay face-down on the nearby
grass, in hopes this would somehow
salve the pain. Then I curled up my
knees to my chest, wrapped my
stinging arms around them, and
dutifully waited 20 minutes
watching the flames to make sure the
fire wasn’t going to get out of
control. I proceeded to the house and
submerged myself for half an hour in
lukewarm water in the bathtub.
When I got out, I found I was
shaking uncontrollably, so decided I
had better go to the Emergency
Room at the hospital. The doctor
assessed the burns to the exposed
parts of my body, consulted the burn
unit at London, and administered
pain relievers. After a couple of
hours I was allowed to go home,
subsequent follow-up having been
arranged through Care Partners and
my family doctor.
It has been a most uncomfortable
couple of weeks! Some nights I
could sleep a couple of hours at a
stretch before getting up to take
additional pain medication. I was
very concerned about my right leg –
its colour seemed quite inflamed, it
became painful to stand on and I was
afraid I would develop flesh-eating
disease. Thankfully, patches of
healthy pale skin began to emerge,
between doses of aloe vera and
Afterburn gel. The clinic nurses
were especially gentle applying
Adaptic mesh, Polysporin, and clean
dressings every couple of days,
teaching me how to care for myself.
So far my legs, face, torso and right
arm have almost completely healed,
and the left arm is coming along
nicely. At my final clinic visit the
nurse observed I’m “a good healer”.
The pain of being burned is not
one I would ever want to experience
again! Considering what might have
been the outcome, I feel blessed. I
have gotten off extremely lightly. A
warning to be more careful next
time, and a reminder to appreciate
the health I have.
The incident reminded me of the
three Hebrews in Daniel 3 who
refused to bow down and worship
the golden image set up by
Babylonian tyrant: Nebuchadnezzar.
He warned them they would be
thrown into a blazing furnace unless
they complied with his command.
The depth of their faith evident in
their reply is arresting: “If we are
thrown into the blazing furnace, the
God we serve is able to save us from
it, and He will rescue us from your
hand, O king. But even if He does
not, we want you to know, O king,
that we will not serve your gods or
worship the image of gold you have
set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18) They had
faith God was able to rescue them;
but even if He did not, they were still
not going to bow down to an idol!
As it turned out, they were tossed
into the fiery furnace, but a fourth
figure looking like “a son of the
gods” was seen accompanying them,
protecting them from harm. Their
trust in the Lord did not prove
unfounded.
Their defiant resistance captured
in three short words (“But if not”)
became the stimulus for the
deliverance of over 330,000 troops
of the British Expeditionary Force
from Dunkirk in May, 1940. That
was the message cabled by a British
officer back to headquarters that
spurred many civilian fishermen and
pleasure craft operators to join in the
gargantuan evacuation effort.
The moderate pain and discomfort
of my wounds has also prompted me
to reflect on Christ Jesus’ pain
endured on our behalf. Mainly just
the front of my body was affected; in
His case, His back was beaten and
torn to shreds by scourging; vicious
soldiers tore out His hair, clamped
thorns to His head, and knocked Him
about; and the nails of the cross cut
THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS.
OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Brussels:
St. Ambrose
Saturday
6:00 p.m.
17 Flora Street
Wingham:
Sacred Heart
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
220 Carling Terrace
Listowel:
St. Joseph’s
Sunday
11:00 a.m.
1025 Wallace Avenue N.
huronchapel.com huronchapelkids.com huronchapelyouth.com
519-526-1131 ~ 119 John’s Ave., Auburn
Sunday August 11 – Youth & Family Minister Rob Campbell preaching
August 25 - Baptism Opportunity
Evangelical Missionary Church
10:30 a.m. Worship - Pastor Ernest Dow
Mercy, Modesty, & Money Pt. 3 -
“Greed’s Griefs – or Kindly Contentment?”
Sunday August 4
BRUSSELS
United Church
Sunday, August 4
Worship Service at 11:00 am
Worship Leader Sandra Cable
All are Welcome
Sunday, August 11
Worship Service at 11:00 am
Worship Leader David Kai OFFICE: 519-523-4224
Office Hours:
Thursday ~ 9:30 am - 2:00 pm
blythunited@tcc.on.ca
Guest Speaker: Sandra Cable
Accessible
Worship Service at 9:30 am
Sunday, August 4
Blyth United Church
Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches
Guest Speaker: David Kai
Sunday, August 11
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, AUGUST 4
Nursery care available
519-887-6687
Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm ~ Soup & More 2
- a free community meal held in Melville’s basement, and
made possible by the Brussels churches working together.
Worship & Sunday School - 9:30 am
Coffee & Snacks following the service
We invite you to join our church family in:
The Regional Ministry of Hope
BLYTH BRUSSELS
Trinity St. John’s
9:15 am 11:15 am
COME WORSHIP WITH US!
Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector
519-357-7781
email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca
TheRegionalMinistryof Hope
St. Paul’s Trinity
WINGHAM 11:15 am
These Anglican Churches
Welcome You Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743
Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
From the Minister’s Study
Faith found in facing the flames: Dow
Continued on page 19
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, August 4
at 10:30 a.m.
650 Alexander St. (former Brussels Public School)
Sunday School for children
4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers
during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service.
Summer evening service 6:00 p.m. at various homes.
For additional details please contact
Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173