14 An unexpected race and unfathomable Grace

Saturday 5th March 2022 was a really crazy day, in many ways. There were way too many things going on. Since Lockdown had ended, I found that I struggled to cope with doing as much as I did before Covid landed. Whether that was the cervical myelopathy, or menopause, I don’t know. Probably a combination of many things. Since the beginning of the year I had been using my walking stick whenever I left the house. I didn’t want to use it at church, but it was busier there now and I didn’t always feel stable on my feet.

Anyway I had triple booked myself that day. I was booked to attend the Healing Centre at Eastgate. I wanted to get a few sessions in before I saw the neurosurgery consultant at King’s Hospital later that month. I was also taking my teen to the youth club that met in Chatham at 1.30pm. This gave me plenty of time to do both at a relaxed pace and then rest for the remainder of the day.

Best laid plans and all that.

Russia had invaded Ukraine a short while before and L at church was organising transportation of much needed supplies. Geof had gathered together blankets and sleeping bags and loaded them into my car before I headed off to Eastgate for my appointment at the Healing Centre. After that, I planned to buy additional supplies at the supermarket. L had said the lorry was leaving at an earlier time than I expected and it could not wait beyond that time. Now there was a greater pressure, as I had to fit it all in before going to Chatham as the youth club did not finish until 3.30.

I arrived at the Healing Centred flustered and distracted. H and P were praying for me. I have since confessed to H that I was so distracted with trying to work out how I could fit everything into the time I had available, that I was not paying much attention to what she and her husband were praying. I was near enough agitated as I watch the clock tick on towards 11am. I stayed for as long as I could respectfully stay, although totally distracted. I walked as fast as I could to my car and then drove to Sainsbury’s which was thankfully just a few minutes away.

I parked my car, walked quickly to the store, grabbed a trolley and put my walking stick inside it. I then proceeded to race around the store, Supermarket Sweep style chucking as many items on the list into the trolley. These items included medication, sanitary products, nappies and baby food. I was actually running around the store, while at the same time thinking that I would physically pay for it later and wondering if I would in fact collapse in the store.

Anyway, products paid for, I rushed out of the store and shoved my shopping bags into the boot of my car. I drove as quickly as legally possible back home to collect my teenager and then back the other way to L’s house to deliver all the goods. Straight from there we drove to Chatham and made it on time to the youth group.

Saturday youth group is a weekly feature of our calendar as it made up of our teen’s closest friends. As is my habit, I stroll around Chatham Town Centre at a very leisurely pace with my walking stick and pulling my small shopping trolley behind me.

On this particular day I had absolutely no plans for any strolling as I had already completed my mad dash for the week. I was really concerned whether I would be steady on my feet or what neuropathic symptoms I would suffer. I walked slowly to my favourite café for lunch and a well earned rest. Unfortunately, they were busy and I would have to come back later. I walked away, looking for a bench to sit on while I waited.

As I walked, I suddenly became aware that my walking stick was not making contact with the ground. In fact, I was actually swinging it. I stopped dead in my tracks at the realisation and did a quick body check. My legs still felt like solid tree trunks but I felt very strong and stable on my feet and in no way unbalanced. I walked up and down short distances along the high street to double and triple check without any problem or discomfort at all. Confident that I was not going to fall over, I folded up my walking stick and put it in my bag.

I have never used it since.

Thanks be to God for his gracious and miraculous Goodness to me in unexpected moments when I am at my worst. It's never about what I'm doing but always about you. Such incomparable riches.