I keep having this recurring daydream. I am at a mountain stream with a tin cup in my hand. I dip into the current and bring a refreshing drink of cool water to my lips. Deep draughts slowly roll down my throat. Over and over again I return the cup to the stream. Then my hand goes to a basket I had placed in the shallows. I pull out a pear and crush its icy pulp with my teeth. Four or five bites and it is gone. I reach down into the frigid basket and my fingers find a peach. I chuckle to myself over how good this is going to taste.
Such are the daydreams of those who eat via a feeding tube. No liquids or solids go through my mouth anymore. The good news is that my choking spells are seriously better; there is no longer anything to choke on. I still help in the kitchen by giving orders on how the meal for the family should be prepared. I know I have become a bit demanding of my sous-chefs (and I am guilty of watching too much of the Food Network), but I find great joy over watching my family enjoy meals. I vicariously dine with them.
Recently, my pastor and I had a sad, but helpful, exchange of text messages. We agreed I should no longer take communion. I have been choking on the cup for months and now the bread is getting to me. I must admit the thought of dying with the Lord’s supper in my mouth would be kinda cool. But, I imagine it would be an overly traumatic scene for children and misunderstood by adults; most would think I was being judged for taking the meal in an unworthy manner (see 1 Corinthians 11:27-30). Probably best to avoid all of that drama.
Lately, I have been pondering how the curse of sin and death was brought into this world through eating. Adam and Eve actualized their disobedience through consuming the forbidden fruit. What started in man’s spirit was manifested through his body. Our physical ills have their source in a broken spirit. My ALS is a manifestation of the grand rebellion humans displayed against God. The beauty of our world was shattered through the pride of mankind. And so we all die . . .
But God, rich in mercy, did not leave us in this condition. When the Church celebrates Christ’s resurrection this month, we recall Passion Week and the Last Supper.
And when he [Jesus] had given thanks, he broke it [the bread], and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25)
The healing of man’s condition is found in Christ. “By His stripes we are healed,” said the prophet Isaiah. Jesus invites us into His life. We sacredly commune through our mouths with Christ. His body and blood are spiritually in us.
What did Jesus tell the Samaritan woman? “[W]hoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” And then during the Feast of Tabernacles,
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
We really are being made into new creatures, ones that can dwell in the new heavens and the new earth. Allow me to finish by turning our thoughts to the Apostle John’s revelation:
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. . . . They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
Everlasting water for the thirsty. Everlasting fruit for the hungry. Christ is everything and He offers everything.
And so, my friends, when you arrive in heaven, please come find me—I will be down by the river.
Last Breath Blog 
Thank you, John. I love you!
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Thank you John . David
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Thank you for your prayers and friendship.
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Such good and helpful words. Thanks for sharing your food for thought with us.I love you. Libby
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Thank you Libby for your prayers and friendship! Love you and your family!
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We love you. Thank you for sharing your struggles and your thoughts. That great river and the tree of life– filled with fruit– will be glorious…It’s for us, because of, and for, the Lamb!
Danellen
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Amen!
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Loved reading your ‘mini sermon’ remarks this morning! Wish you would jot down just thoughts and do as you did in this passage. You are so full of Godly wisdom but you are able to express your thoughts through Scripture and Godly leading in such a wonderful way. Sorry you no longer are able to swallow your own food but my how it has sharpened your other senses!! Praise God for that!! Love you, John!!! Hope you have a great week-end praising our Lord and Savior!!!
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Thank you Barbara. Praise the Lord!
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Loved reading your ‘mini sermon’ remarks this morning! Wish you would jot down just thoughts and do as you did in this passage. You are so full of Godly wisdom but you are able to express your thoughts through Scripture and Godly leading in such a wonderful way. Sorry you no longer are able to swallow your own food but my how it has sharpened your other senses!! Praise God for that!! Love you, John!!! Hope you have a great week-end praising our Lord and Savior!!!
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Thank you Barbara. Yes, may the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus always be on our minds and hearts!
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What an inspiration you are for us John Geiger !!!!
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Praise the Lord.
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Dearest John,
You are pure gold in a very tarnished world. So very grateful to call you friend. See you by the river.
❤️Marion Steindorff
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Love you Marion!
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John thanks for your insight into the beauty of the tangible signs God has given us —all pointing to his grace, goodness and provision— food and drink being a common but beautiful example. I look forward to sharing them again with you when the signposts become reality, and all these shadows pass away in light of the ultimate light, the face of Christ himself.
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Amen and amen!
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Our prayers continue for you and your family. Thank you for continuing to use the gifts God has given you to strengthen His family. Love, Obey, Trust… Sharon and David
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Thank you for your prayers Sharon!
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Wow! Your words are so encouraging! I can actually hear you speaking them. I visualized you by the stream, reaching your cup in the water and your hand as you reached for the pear! You have an incredible gift of communication, John! Prayers for you and your family always! You are loved!
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Praise the Lord Jennifer. Thank you for all your prayers. Much love.
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Dearest John,
So happy to see your post. You continue to be s sweet smelling fragrance of his wisdom, love and mercy.
When I read your post I was at my sister Sherry’s home. Her husband is living and struggling w/ Parkinson’s. Your post brought so much encouragement.
Thank you dear man. Love you and Dawn along w/ your children. Continuing to pray knowing that our Lord will bless you with the encouragement that He is more than enough.
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Thank you Laney. I love hearing how someone else is encouraged. Love you and know that we are two hours away.
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What a beautiful, tranquil thought. I’ll remember that for a long time, I’ll find you there by the river and we’ll have many stories to share. And what a time we’ll have.
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Just bring a cup . . . I will have the fruit cooling.
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Beautiful and encouraging. Thank you for illuminating the darkness!
Warrior on,
Carol Anne
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Warrior on!
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Once again you have pointed your readers to God’s gracious path to Heaven, through Jesus. Thank you for turning my thoughts from my daily, temporary activities to my Eternal Home.
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Amen, Nancy. Praise the Lord!
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My heart and mind are flooded with sweet memories of the North Carolina campground with you, Dawn and the kids and so many of our friends as we would vacation there years ago. But you have made me long for the sweet, pure fellowship we will have when we reach our home! Your courage has strengthened me in so many ways John and your life, your words, and your thoughts have been a gift to so many as we each walk this journey toward home.
I love you and Dawn and all the Geiger’s so much and pray for you every single day and look forward to another visit soon. ❤️🙏🏻❤️
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Amen and amen!
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John, Tad and I will be with you to enjoy the food of paradise! I think this will be new foods and new tastes that we can not yet fully understand or possibly even imagine. By the way, I hope you will be cooking up some good grub for us and others, that will be special! In thinking about your post, I found an article in Desiring God which reminded me of what you said, “Jesus said, ‘People will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God’ (Luke 13:29). Isaiah 25:6 says, ‘On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine.’ How good a meal will that be? My compliments to the chef — the Lord God.”
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Thank you for your words of truth. We love you!!!
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Love y’all!
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