Praise

This is an interesting title for a bad experience. Stay with me to the end, to understand how I knew praise.

I remember the call to prayer before going out into the darkness to ride the train to Trader Joe’s for a few groceries. I’ve done this outing many times, so why a special prayer? I do not remember if I prayed or not, but I understand now why it would have been good to kneel down and pray.

I took the train to Forest Hills and walked to Trader Joe’s where I filled the rolling backpack with groceries and set off for the subway station. On impulse, I turned into a New York blood donor center and inquired about giving blood. Yes, I could. It would take 45 minutes. It was a brand new facility and the people were kind. I filled out a form and then relaxed as the blood flowed from me. Afterwards, I felt okay, but I did sit down to drink a bottle of juice and to have a cookie before walking back to the subway station.

Since I’d just given blood and because of the heavy backpack, I decided I’d use the elevator instead of stairs to go down to the turnstile entrance. I was surprised at how dizzy I felt while I waited. The elevator arrived. I made it to the train platform and onto the train. All would be well, or so I thought.

I rode several stops to our station, got off the train, and carried the heavy backpack up a flight of stairs, ignoring the instructions of no lifting for a day. I had three more flights to go before getting out of the station. I felt terrible. I could not go on, and I leaned against a pole. When I thought I could continue, I climbed a few steps and then realized that with my foggy state of mind I hadn’t brought the backpack along. I returned to my backpack. I knew then that I’d have to ask for help.

In desperation, I stopped a man coming down the steps and said, “Can you help me?”

He said, thinking I wanted in the subway system, “Don’t worry. I’ll open the gate for you.”

“No,” I said, “I gave blood. I feel like I’m going to faint.”

“You need to sit down,” he replied. I listened and sat down on a dirty step. “You need a drink of water. I’m sorry all I have is alcohol.” (God can use anyone! Even the partially drunk guy looking for shelter in a subway station. The man was so kind.) I told him that what I really need is someone to carry my bag up the steps.

“Don’t worry. I will carry your bag whenever you’re ready.”

My mind wasn’t clear, but I figured I was ready. The man picked up my bag, and we walked out. I even dug a couple dollars from my billfold to give him, saying, “Don’t use it to buy alcohol.” I assured him that I’d be alright, and he went back down into the station.

I took a few steps before fainting and falling onto the sidewalk. A young man asked if I’m okay. I thought I’d tripped, and as I got up, I told him I was fine. “Are you sure?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said, before walking on. I fainted the second time. (My mind wasn’t functioning too well and how it all happened isn’t clear to me.) At some point, I sat down by the entrance to an apartment building. I fainted a third time and I fell off the small pillar I was sitting on.

I realized then that though I was only a block from home, I was completely helpless. In my desperation, I called Laurence who by now was home from work. Laurence came and rescued me. He took the bag. He held onto me, and we got home where he made me lay down with my legs propped up. (He’s had some experience with people fainting after drawing blood.) I recovered my equilibrium, and I knew I’d survive.

Before going to bed last evening, I read how my friend chose praise for her word of the year. Praise flowed through me as I fell asleep and it did again this morning. When I was helpless, God kept me. He took care of me. “I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips” (Psalm 34:1 NIV).

The experience was not pleasant, but the result could have been much worse. Next time, I’ll eat more snacks, have someone with me, and I will not carry anything heavy. Or maybe there won’t be a next time. Maybe I’m getting too old to give blood.

Berniece