DEEJAYKEG Posted September 5, 2012 Member ID: 1238 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 35 Topic Count: 1207 Topics Per Day: 0.23 Content Count: 6083 Content Per Day: 1.17 Reputation: 4984 Achievement Points: 50727 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 11 Joined: 03/12/10 Status: Offline Last Seen: April 11 Device: Kindle Fire Share Posted September 5, 2012 I know religion is a banned topic around here so I risk censure for typing this message but I hope the example of the guy I am going to talk about may inspire others and, particularly, comfort those who are facing major health issues currently. I met Brother Rick Bunch, an American who ran a mission in Thailand, caring for HIV/AIDS sufferers, in February 2011, when he accompanied a priest I was picking up from Heathrow Airport to begin a post as curate of our local parish. Brother Rick made an immediate impression on me. He was visibly in poor health but that didn't cramp his style - he was outgoing, committed and a great guy to talk to. We had common ground - one of my former areas of "business" was investigating people trafficking and he had rescued women and children from the clutches of gangs in Thailand and Burma. Some women had been in cages and the children had been as young as eight years old. Yes, eight years old! I returned home announcing to my wife that I had just met "the closest thing to a living saint" possible. Much later, I learned that this guy had worked alongside the Blessed Mother Theresa. He'd also discussed the plight of HIV/AIDS sufferers with our own Queen Elizabeth, whom he respected greatly. The man confounded doctors. With his complex health problems - he was a diabetic whose heart had been seriously damaged by multiple heart attacks, he suffered from Parkinson's Disease and neuropathy - medical opinion was that he should not have been still alive! But he was! We knew why he was, of course, and Who was keeping him going! But his attitude to suffering was that it, along with everything else we are given, was a gift. The question to be asked was not "Dear God, why do you permit this?" but "Dear God, what lesson am I expected to learn from this?". The world has lost a mighty agent for love and goodness and I am saddened to learn of his passing. But his example can inspire others - doctors are not the arbiters of life and death... That privilege belongs to He who brought you into being. Farewell to an extraordinary man. RIP + To read more abour Br R Bunch, see: http://soltnews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/br-rick-bunch-solt-rest-in-peace.html Shamu, Pharticus and hxtr 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
HarryWeezer Posted September 5, 2012 Member ID: 20166 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 40 Topic Count: 611 Topics Per Day: 0.16 Content Count: 7654 Content Per Day: 1.96 Reputation: 7229 Achievement Points: 53674 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 36 Joined: 10/04/13 Status: Offline Last Seen: Friday at 02:59 PM Birthday: 10/16/1946 Device: Windows Share Posted September 5, 2012 Very inspiring DJ. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
sabreeyes Posted September 5, 2012 Member ID: 1642 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 22 Topic Count: 72 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 900 Content Per Day: 0.18 Reputation: 241 Achievement Points: 6952 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 08/05/10 Status: Offline Last Seen: June 3, 2016 Birthday: 07/30/1958 Share Posted September 5, 2012 yes DJ great story Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hxtr Posted September 6, 2012 Member ID: 220 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 147 Topic Count: 595 Topics Per Day: 0.11 Content Count: 16950 Content Per Day: 3.14 Reputation: 13538 Achievement Points: 129714 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 120 Joined: 09/04/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 26, 2023 Birthday: 04/05/1970 Device: Windows Share Posted September 6, 2012 Obama bless you DeeJay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damage_inc- Posted September 6, 2012 Member ID: 2048 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 294 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 6689 Content Per Day: 1.36 Reputation: 4709 Achievement Points: 48999 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 5 Joined: 12/15/10 Status: Offline Last Seen: November 29, 2023 Birthday: 05/30/1967 Device: Windows Share Posted September 6, 2012 the true beauty of suffering?i dont get that those 8yr olds and women in brothels and in cages were given that gift to make something better somehow...but its great he was a person that helped people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
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