"Health- an Illusion of Certainty"

Basically- I am paraphrasing a quote I heard by Kim Snyder, who put together a documentary about ME several years ago. (1999?) 

I watched it on youtube.com yesterday. 

Being I've lived with ME for almost 30 years- and there is such an overlap with Lyme- it was interesting to watch (although not necessarily uplifting, it was affirming- like an Under Our Skin, but for ME- which is myalgic encephalomyelitis).

Toward the end of the documentary- Ms. Snyder is looking back on what was 'normal', was there such a thing, and her conclusion was that perhaps 'health is an illusion of certainty'.

Although Ms. Snyder and I would perhaps differ on some worldview points- I can relate to much of what she goes through in the film, and I was struck by the truism of her statement.

She really put into words something I've had run around in my head.  And it is actually another Gift of Lyme... and as with all things Lyme, there is a twist, especially when it comes to it's gifts! 

The twist is, you have had to experience Lyme to 'get it'.  Just like with ME, or a myriad of other diseases.  Getting any life altering illness causes one to re-evaluate and ponder life in many new ways. 

So why would I agree that 'health is an illusion of certainty', and even more so- why would I say ill health/Lyme then is a gift?

In our struggles, challenges, pain, ups-n-downs... we know the reality of life being uncertain.  There is no more 'life according to my plans'.  We have learned to expect the possibility of changes; things being uncertain. 

We can be 'okay' one minute, and on the floor the next.  One day we may be able to be out at a function, and then be in bed for days/weeks... 

The way we 'plan', if we dare to plan- is much different than our healthy counterparts- who have this unrealistic, but understandable, belief that pretty much whatever they've put on the calendar, or take off their calendar is primarily under their control.  They feel certain they will be able to do whatever it is ahead of them.  They live quite independently.

The gift for us is the realization that our plans our not our own- at least this is a gift to a Believer.  A Believer who is afflicted has a much more palpable understanding of uncertainty.  And, although at first it is anything from an awkward reality, to a terrifying reality- It can drive us to a deeper understanding that ultimately Our God is in control, only He is certain/sovereign, only He is stable/secure.  Everything else is 'just an illusion of certainty'.

Once we begin to turn our desire for certainty, stability- to Him, so that we are dependent on Him- and not our plans, circumstances, wishes...  Peace, Comfort, Strength, Joy, forbearance... begin to unwrap themselves within us... 

Are things uncertain for you today?  Embrace it- and give those concerns to the LORD- ask Him to establish your footsteps, one step at a time...ask Him to reveal His presence, and His presents to your soul as you seek Him~ 

Blessings-
Psalm 34
Psalm 40:2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
Proverbs 16:9 The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.