During my mid-thirties to early forties, I had a few bouts with colon-related issues. I know just the way to captivate your audience. Talk about your bowels. Bear with me. Some of the ways I was healed and in which God spoke to me during these bouts were pretty interesting and sometimes funny. The first time I was told on a Friday that I had to come in for a colonoscopy on Monday. Being mature and willing to submit to authority, I did not stomp my foot and say to God, “Forget it, Lord. I’d rather die.” If I were God, I might have granted my wish or at least given me a good talking to. Not God. When Monday rolled around, my symptoms were gone, so I canceled my colonoscopy. With the next bout, a couple of years later, I called a friend and told her about having spent over a month on the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, no butter). I was over it. My friend said, “Brat diet. You mean beans, rice, and tacos.” The power of suggestion. That evening I fixed my family dinner and ran out to go to the store. Instead, I ended up at a local taqueria and filled up on beans, rice, and tacos. Just what I needed, as the next day things were once again back to normal. Another time was a lengthy bout after having gotten giardia. This time I was at the end of my rope. Once the giardia was gone, the symptoms remained. After being prayed over, I stumbled onto a yeast management program. Yeast can build up after an extensive dose of antibiotics. That was true of me during the giardia bout. Plus, about all I could stomach of the BRAT diet at the end was the toast full of yeast. I dropped the yeast and was healed. I began to joke about how I should write a book called the Colon Chronicles. 

In my mid-forties, I really got nailed. Before, I had always been able to operate at my same energy level. This bout put me to bed for over a month. My doctor couldn’t come up with a diagnosis, but he recommended I take some heavy drugs. A more naturalistic friend warned against them, and I listened to her. I fasted, which really just happened naturally as all food had been going right through me. I spent forty days in bed, mostly in a restless sleep. I lost forty pounds. (Quite a few forties here!)

Alas, the Glory speaks. One night came the dream, a dream I had for three nights straight. For all three nights, two Disneyland pirates were sword fighting. Granted, at the time of the dream, a neighbor woman had taken one of my sons along with her grandson to Disneyland. Nevertheless, I somehow knew these pirates were fighting for my life. At the same time, a well-known Hollywood actor, Robert Downey Jr., was encapsulated in a very large bubble. He looked very dark and disturbed. He floated around in my dream like he was watching me. 

The last night of these dreams, the pirates locked swords, and one declared, “She lives!” At that point Tinker Bell flew in surrounded by light brighter than any light I had ever seen before. It was surreal. Inside of my dream I had the thought of how amazing this was and wondered if somehow God was involved. I spoke to God and said, “God, is this You?” God spoke back to me, saying, “Oh no. This pales in comparison to me!” Wow! There I was inside of a dream in total awe of God Almighty. Shortly after, I awoke in wonder and continued my way back to healing and strength. I like to add that this dream took place over thirty years ago, and that was the last of the bouts. Praise God. 

A few weeks ago, I was reading the study guide for a small Bible study group within my church. We were in Philippians. The commentary that day is what caused me to recall my dream and gave me the motivation to write this story. 

Philippians 3:20–21 For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord, Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”

The commentator says, “Paul reminds the Philippians once again of their citizenship in Heaven. Citizenship is not just a future reality but a present reality for the believers. They belong to Jesus Christ, which means that they are citizens in the present, and the culmination of their citizenship will happen when Christ returns. The governing body of Rome ‘pales in comparison’ (wait a minute, this is my line) to the governing body of the Kingdom of God. Rome may call Caesar its savior, but it is Jesus Christ who is the true Savior of the world, and His rule and reign are far greater than any earthly kingdom that has been or will be.” Final comment: “Believers should see how the satisfactions of this life ‘pale in comparison to what we receive in Christ now and what we will one day receive. The pursuit of Christ is the only pursuit that matters; in it is life everlasting.”

We were to share what we got out of the study during the week. I shared this dream, as it had brought me to remember a time when God truly intervened for me. There have been many. I am beyond grateful to have a relationship with the Living God and to have entry into His kingdom. I’m reminded of Jesus’ quote in Luke 17:20–21 “The Kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Our God is an amazing God, and Tinker Bell in all of her radiance doesn’t stand a chance to outshine Him.