“I’m strong to the finish ‘cause I eats me spinach, I’m Popeye the Sailor Man”….and of course, in the same cartoon was his pal Wimpy.  There have been times when I was definitely strong (thanks be to God) and yet I can be wimpy, too.

        It was stress test day and an early appointment.  The sneakers were tied in place, loose clothing, all prep directions followed and away I went. W-e-l-l, before long, I realized the room I was directed to did not contain a treadmill, but rather a TUNNEL.  A long horrific tube that was going to encapsulate me. HELP (after multiple bad MRI experiences, this looked w-a-y too similar to an MRI and the uncomfortable fear crept up on me.)  The WIMPY in me was bubbling up to the surface.  What was I going to do? Interestingly enough, I had already prepared a visual of a “happy place,” to be “seeing” as I jogged along on the treadmill.  Soooooooooooooooo now, I would need to conjure up that happy place really quick.  I closed my eyes, stretched out on the “torture trough” that would lead into the Pet nuclear stress tunnel.  Immediately, I saw my balcony from an Alaskan cruise, where I sat and watched the Alaskan wilderness passing by.  I was in my happy place, replaying in my mind all the views, the cold air, smelling the aroma from muffins baking in the ship’s galley (I am good at visualization, using all my senses, lol).  The BEST news is for the thirty minutes I endured “the tunnel” Jesus was sitting in the other chair on the room balcony.  I was never alone.  My fear was gone.  I was being upheld, unconditionally loved, cared for and I was smiling. Isn’t our God wonderful?  Poof, fear gone! Lean on Him.  Trust Him.  Be still and know that He is God…and will even go into the tunnel of terrors with you.

Jill