The other day on Facebook I was reading a group of comments regarding a famous musician who recently died. For the most part, their response was the universal, RIP, along with sending prayers to the family. There were some folks saying that they were thinking of family and friends during this time. All three are very appropriate.
I came to one reply that I’ve seen people leave from time to time, “I’m sending positive vibes.”
Not having a clue where this phrase came from, I looked it up. There are several different interpretations depending on where you search. The following explanation on Google somewhat struck home because I grew up during that era:
“The phrase is believed to have emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, during the hippie counterculture movement.”
That means it’s in that same group of words as: groovy, hip, far out, bummer, dig it, bogart, and flower power.
The Beach Boys had a hit tune titled, “Good Vibrations” around this timeline. I thought maybe the lyrics to that song would open my eyes a bit, but after reading them, the words evidently refer to a different kind of vibe than those needed to support people during medical issues or grief.
“I’m picking up good vibrations, she’s giving me excitations!” doesn’t seem like vibes I’d be sending Aunt Myrtle after Uncle Floyd died.
Several years ago, I had a heart episode that put me in the hospital. My heart was racing like crazy and the doctors couldn’t slow it down. Atrial fibrillation is the medical term. I was to undergo a shock treatment the following morning which meant stopping my heart and restarting it. Asking my wife to immediately go onto my Facebook site, and ask anyone that was online that evening to pray for me, she did just that.
Sometime during the wee hours of the morning I woke up with nurses and doctors standing around my bed. Miraculously, my heart had went back into normal rhythm on its own. I saw it as prayers being answered.
Looking back over the comments several days later, I noticed many had prayed, along with some saying that they were thinking of me. I felt blessed and most appreciative of each and everyone.
Had there been a few good vibes sent my way I wouldn’t have been upset, yet on the other hand, had they all been good vibes, I wonder if I’d still be here. You see, I believe that my heart was healed by the power of God and nothing less. Prayer, being much more powerful than any other, helped immensely.
If I was to compare sending good vibes to any significant life event as an example it’d be like this. Suppose you were in financial dire and needed some urgent money like right now. Word was put out by family and friends, and checks started rolling in the next day. Unfortunately, there was no funds in the people’s checking accounts having sent them.
Good vibes are basically bad checks. The thought behind sending them is thoughtful, yet they lack any power to truly help people during needy times.
Should I ever have another medical emergency, I’ll take all the prayers that I can get. Good thoughts will be welcome as well. Good vibes will be accepted so as not to offend anyone; all three in that order.
Please don’t send me any Beach Boy good vibrations. The last thing a heart patient needs are excitations!
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