still hurting

I am still hurting from Saturday's game, to the extent that I think I may go to the gym and do some CV work rather than getting battered again at rugby training tonight.  I remember seeing a film once following the senior England team in which the physio explained that what an international forward goes through can only be equated to a controlled car crash every weekend.  Of course we are nowhere near the level of a full international, but the physicality, especially with the current weather conditions, is incredibly high.

Thankfully the scrapes on my face are beginning to fade now, although they made for some interesting looks in the hospital yesterday.  The hospital visiting continues to challenge me.  It also saddens and encourages me: saddens because some of the people and relatives are hurting so far beyond anything that my body is going through after what seems like a fairly trivial (in comparison) game of rugby; encourages me because amongst the pain and suffering there are genuine stories of hope.  Yesterday afternoon an elderly lady asked me to pray with her.  Then, as I came to leave, the lady in the bed next to her leant over and said; "I prayed with you too."  What a great story; two people, with every right to feel that things are a bit unfair, trusting in Christ and knowing that their hope is in Him.  I left feeling incredibly encouraged.