Stephen C. McKinney Memorial Thread (1969-2001)

[Fist and Faith]

I think I'll stay home tonight tho, he told me too

Yeah, I've heard that pregnant women should get some rest once in a while. And I've heard that women who have five kids should also rest occasionally. And I've heard that women who fall into both categories should get some rest!!!

[Furls Fire]

really??? news to me

[variol son]

They should make you a Saint, Tracie. You are one special woman.



Sum sui generis
Vs

[Furls Fire]

[variol son]

Oi! Blushing is forbidden!

Sum sui generis
Vs

[Furls Fire]

Vs

Isaiah is doing well this morning. I called the hospital and he is sleeping. His temp has dropped to about 100, so that is very good news. He had a good night.

I typed up this next entry of Stephen's to post because I thought it would show his amazing inner grace. And also, Fist, because he mentions Bach.

Peace and love to all!!

Tracie

[Stephen C]

June 28, 2001 12:17am

God’s grace envelopes me this night. I am awash in light, in peace. Why this night? He is close to me, closer than I have ever felt Him. Is it that my time to pass is upon me? No. How can it be? I am not very ill right now, my pain is bearable. Ah, but Stephen, does that matter? If He deems that it is time, is it not time? Very Ill or not, you will go if you are called. And so, I write this down, the page illuminated only by the glow of the Lord’s Light. I see clearly, though my eyes of late see less and less. There are no shadows, there is no darkness, there is no blur of clarity. It is all light. Ah sweet peace, sweet serenity, sweet presence.

I thank you, Lord for giving me such a gift, though I am not deserving, You still bestow Your divine grace upon me. What is there I can give in return? Or do You even require or ask for such? No. You don’t. Ah Sweet Jesus, how You fill my heart, my soul, my self. My life, as it is and was, Your gift to me, has been full of love and light. I strive always to live up to Your expectations of me. I often wonder if I do.

“Stephen, do not think such things.” Is that what I just heard? Ah, forgive me, Father. I know I should not question Your wisdom. The words of Bach come to me…

Jesu, joy of man's desiring,
Holy wisdom, love most bright;
Drawn by Thee, our souls aspiring
Soar to uncreated light.
Word of God, our flesh that fashioned,
With the fire of life impassioned,
Striving still to truth unknown,
Soaring, dying round Thy throne.

Ah beauty! How I long for my music right now. I feel Your presence abating, Father. Yet not gone. The shadows are returning, the light grows dimmer now. My time still not at hand, You only graced me to bring me back to hope, to peace, to light. To fill me with serenity as blindness begins to overtake me. My gratitude overflows, Father. Overflows.

[Fist and Faith]

Well, of course Stephen loved Bach!!! I never doubted it for a second.

[duchess of malfi]

Perhaps Stephen lost his eyesight in our world, but he was anything but blind....anything but...

[Furls Fire]

Well, of course Stephen loved Bach!!! I never doubted it for a second.

Pretty obvious, huh?

Perhaps Stephen lost his eyesight in our world, but he was anything but blind....anything but...

anything but

"Even the blind can see this light, what a glorious passing this is." --Stephen's final words, 9/25/2001 (I think I quoted that before.)

***********

Isaiah!! He is doing wondrously! Fever is gone, blood tests show a decrease in the MAC bacterium, (tho, it is still present), and he is scheduled for a blood transfusion today. Get that ole CD4 count back up. The PCP is also still present and he is on continuous oxygen. His KS has reflared tho, which is not surprising, that will never go away. And his eyesight has not improved at all. It has actually worsened, his left eye is completely blind, and he has "tunnel vision" in the right. Looks like his reading days are over. I'm not sure whether he will be able to come to the board and post. We will see once I get him HOME...which should be by next monday, God willing.

Again everyone, thank you for your prayers, well wishes, and love. Isaiah is still with us!!! Love is Power!!

[danlo]

Throwing incredible tons of love, in a NW direction, at Isaiah, and Furls!

[Furls Fire]

Love is patient.
Love is kind.
Love is not envious.
It does not boast
or become conceited.
It is not indecent.
It is not selfish.
It is not irritable.
It does not plan to hurt anyone.
It does not delight in wrongdoing
but is happy with the truth.
It bears everything,
believes everything,
hopes for everything,
endures everything.
Love never fails.

--1 Corinthians 13:4-8

[Worm of Despite]

Hey Furls, my grandmother has a real big poster-like thing of that framed in the den.

[Fist and Faith]

I also love 1-3!!

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

[Furls Fire]

Way cool LF!! I also have it as a beautiful tapestry framed and up on the wall.

Beautiful Fist, beautiful

Isaiah had a transfusion yesterday and he's now got some color back to his skin He's looking goooooood. He said to tell you all hello and thank you for all your prayers and love. If he continues to improve we may be able to bring him home Monday or Tuesday. Keep those prayers coming!!

Peace

Tracie

[Fist and Faith]

Beautiful Fist, beautiful

(But I'm not actually the author. )

[Furls Fire]

I know that, ya goof.

[Fist and Faith]

Just making sure.

So say Hi to Isaiah for me. And not like you haven't already thought of it, but even if he can't operate the computer when he gets home, he can dictate to you while logged on as him.

[Furls Fire]

We actually talked about that today. And he would like to do something like that He's going to be in bed alot of the time tho. So very weak.

[Furls Fire]

We are bringing him home tomorrow!!!