Defining moments (April 2020)
Our History has, at times, been divided into AD and BC. People have used different symbols to describe eras but for me the full original phrase “anno Domini nostri Jesu Christi,” in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ, and BC, Before Christ, have become even more significant.
Jackie and I regularly find ourselves saying things like, “remember before the accident we…” The accident date has been such a key moment in our lives because life is so different each side of that moment.
The actual moment, what happened at that point in time, is more important than any numerical date methodology, astronomical or otherwise.
I read that others with a brain injury have found the challenge to match who they were and who they are post-accident (PA), too difficult to cope with. As such they have decided to think of themselves as a new person starting fresh PA.
I can relate to this completely and in the early stages of recovery I even discussed the matter with my wife. She said that in my case I remembered and shared so much in relation to my family I was still the same person to them, and they were glad to have me back.
As such there was no need to avoid words that related to that specific time, quite the opposite in fact. Again, this is another example of how blessed I have been since the accident.
But life is different. How different are we living in the years of our Lord Jesus Christ?
History may be behind us, and we can indeed be forgiven of past mistakes, but it is not too late to change our future, for self and others. Learning from History is important. We don’t need to repeat the same mistakes we can do better for all people.
His-Story with God is important, and I’d like to summarise things, but Stephen did this, moments before being killed. Acts 7:2-53 Even at this time Jesus was not only his priority, he was with him throughout.
“But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55)
