I received THE wake-up call on May 7th 1997. I had a severe heart attack but, fortunately, received help within minutes. While I was in the paramedic ambulance en route to hospital, I watched my ECG on the monitor and I could see that I was in deep trouble unless something intervened soon.
That recognition of impending doom made me realise my life needed to change; I recognised I had hurt and angered my wife earlier and needed to make amends soon. I guessed that I would require open-heart surgery, and the prospect terrified me.
But then in the Emergency Department I noticed I was feeling very calm and absolutely certain that everything would be perfect. There was a reason for this unexpected and unusually optimistic feeling! As soon as she heard the news of my heart attack, my wife, Rosemary, had approached prayer groups in our former parish of Christ Church, Flamborough, ON, as well as our current parish of St. John the Apostle, Port Moody. They had begun “storming heaven” on my behalf as well as our family’s. I was uplifted by this “family of prayer” and, since all three of our daughters lived outside B.C., the community of our parish had become our family.
I became aware of the power of prayer; something I had never fully appreciated before. I learned that prayer is effective and that you are never alone in prayer. I know now that prayers are answered, even if they are not what you may want to hear! Since my wake-up call, I have been blessed repeatedly, as has my growing family. I try to remember to say “Thanks!” in my prayers.
