A Hospital Visit

It was a snowy day in Indiana. My friend Earl was in the hospital with complication from diabetes. He had to have a leg amputated above the knee.

Earl loved music. We worked together at a church in Henryville, Indiana, in the late 1980s. Earl lead the music at the church as a volunteer. His occupation was selling building supplies.

Earl and I had both moved on to other places. We never lost touch. I received a call one day about his situation and I drove down interstate 65 to Clark County Hospital (just north of Louisville, KY) to see my friend.

I am a guitar player so I took my guitar with me to cheer Earl up. Music has charms.

At the front desk I was given his room number and headed to see my friend. I didn’t know what to expect. Yes, he was a man of faith but losing a leg would be difficult - so I thought.

He was glad to see me. We talked awhile and then we sang. He in his hospital bed, and me at the foot of the bed. There were occasional interruptions from medical staff who came to check on their patient. As soon as they left we found a new song and the duet continued.

I had a hymnbook with me. Earl sang from memory. He never missed a verse. I did not want to wear out my welcome so I packed my guitar away and said my goodbyes as well as a prayer for my friend.

As I was headed out the door he said - “How about one more song?” I unpacked the guitar and asked if he had a song in mind. I will never forget his request. Play “He Touched Me,” Earl said.

If you don’t know the lyrics here they are:

Shackled by a heavy burden
'Neath a load of guilt and shame
Then the hand of Jesus touched me
And now I am no longer the same

He touched me, oh, He touched me
And oh, the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened, and now I know
He touched me, and made me whole

Since I've met this blessed Savior
Since He's cleansed and made me whole
Oh, I will never cease to praise Him (to praise Him)
I'll shout it while eternity rolls

Oh He touched me, oh He touched me, He touched me
And oh, the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole

I went to cheer Earl up that day. It was me that received the blessing. Here was a man that had lost a limb singing about being whole. And he was.

I think Heaven applauded that day. Angels were high- five-ing one another (if that’s possible) and I am sure that Jesus smiled. Oh the Joy……..