[From a friend]

Dear Rowland

I am a migraine sufferer. I have been the subject of various pharmacutical tests in desperate attempts to find relief. Occasionally I would have a “Full blown” migraine that would result in partial loss of eyesight, severe confusion, intense motion sickness (can’t move at all without vomiting and passing out) loss of feeling in fingers then hands then arms, and pain so bad I have thoughts of killing myself. I have been examined for all sorts of problems when these attacks occure – but they always boil down to migraine. Over the past 10 yrs I have been taking daily preventative medication which has transformed my life.

HOWEVER – I can tell you, bright lights and loud noises are STILL intolerable. I regularly have to cover my ears in church. Sometimes I actually get pieces of tissue and stuff my ears so I don’t have to sit there with my fingers in my ears. Loud noise gives me a headache VERY quickly – I am VERY sensitive.

Now I am prepared to suffer for my faith – but not for loud music.

Because I have this problem I am sensitive to others who also do – I have a friend who suffered nerve damage in a car accident and has to spend much of each service outside due to the noise which he can’t physically tolerate. There are others also.

I believe it is extrememly selfish to insist on loud music. It is NOT inclusive. The fact that it is an issue shows how very selfish the church can be. I am not “60 and over” – I have just turned 40 and my friend with facial nerve damage is 50. I would not be surprised if people younger than me suffer as well (I have had a problem with bright lights and loud noises ever since I was a youth and started getting migraine).

“Share one anothers troubels and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ”

the law of Christ being: “Do for others as you would like them to do for you.” Luke 6:31

and Philippians 2:3-4 “Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.”

(unlike the motto of the age: do what you wnat to do, be what you want to be Yeah! where individual rights are more important than love, compassion and the common good). We are commanded to – be NOT conformed to the pattern of this world… Rom 12:2 (Do not copy the behaviour and customs of the world – NLT).

tell your friend who wrote to you – I say AMEN to their letter.

[Name withheld]