0214 Me And Lazarus

'Since your breakdown, Michael, you've changed out of all recognition...' Was I supposed to feel flattered, since this was evidently meant as a compliment - leaving a vapour trail of implications about past behaviour across the clear sky of my mind? No, I did not feel flattered; though agreeably unconcerned about the degree of un-observation in an old friend; how could he not see that I was as I ever was, though minus some things I could happily do without, acquired along the way? Now I can begin to imagine Lazarus called back from the dead, unwinding his lifetime's shroud - you wake up with a touch of cramp to see a goggle-eyed bunch of familiar faces telling you some frankly unbelievable story in which you appear as the unwitting central character; apart of course from Him; and you should feel grateful for this? when you're a beggar, the milk bill's not been paid, and you're right out of wild honey? Ah, here's the pay-off that the Bible omits to mention - (unless I'm some special case) - that like Lazarus, I entered the breakdown van the world's beggar, and emerged, a hell-and-back, with new-found freedom and happiness, and not a little gratitude, rich beyond riches.