I love the shock value of the movie "The Day The Earth Stood Still." A movie about an event that was so life-altering that all normalcy on earth ceased to exist is a way cool movie. But it's just that, a movie. It's not real life. In real life, no matter the impact of the situation in our lives, the earth doesn't stop spinning. It keeps going. Life keeps moving ahead.
Yesterday was my oldest's daughter's birthday. It also marked the one year anniversary of my last day at work. One year ago at this time I was entering into a autoimmune flare that would last for months. For the past 3&1/2 years, there has been this little voice in the back of my mind, reminding me that one of my friends, who suffers from a similar condition, didn't realize that her last day at work was going to be just that, her last day at work. The phrase "I had no idea that I would not be returning to work that day" has stuck in my mind, and I dismissed it, thinking that my disease would never affect me in such a devastating way. But it did. On April 7, 2015, my legs were so red, swollen and painful that I could barely walk. Keith had to come pick me up from work because I could not drive. I remember trying to get everything in place before I left, thinking that while it may be a few months before I returned, I would return, and I wanted everything to run smoothly while I was gone.
But then, something really unexpected happened. My condition quickly worsened. What began as erythromelalgia, a condition that affected my extremities including both legs and one arm and is bad in and of itself, rapidly turned into a systemic autoimmune crisis that did not respond to medication. Shortly after April 7th, my speech and cognition were altered, I was no longer able to walk without assistance and I was in constant pain. I could not figure out what exactly had brought about this crisis, and I sure did not know how to stop it. Neither did any of my specialist. This flare was going to have to go away on its own, and no one knew how long it would take for it to resolve, and if there would be any long-term effects from it.
So why am I reliving the events of last year right now? One would think that I would want to forget that last year ever happened. But that's just the thing. Last year DID happen. Not just my illness, but life happened! The kids grew a year older. They finished school and started a new grade. Boo played basketball for the first time. My son is learning to drive a car. Lu is involved in every possible activity at her middle school. My mother graduated from college. My cousin's daughter got married. Our family went on a cruise and Keith wheeled me around everywhere so I would not miss anything. A few kind-hearted guys surprised us with a deck in our backyard. Our family made endearing friendships with some people who work at a local radio station. I know I am leaving some things out. So much happened in 2015.
So why am I writing this post? Is it just to mark the one year anniversary of a terrible event that occurred in my life? No. Where's the hope in that? I'm writing because I know there are so many people who have tragic events in their lives. I know so many who question why things have been allowed to happen to them. One of the difficult realities to face when you find yourself in the midst of a trying season in your life is that life goes on. The earth doesn't stop spinning because of what has happened to you. The sun will set at night and rise the next morning. Months will go by and the seasons will change. You may wish that all of the earth would stop for just one moment, but God in His sovereignty decreed that the earth keeps on going and doesn't stop for anyone or anything.
And therein lies our hope. Our situation does not define us. Difficult times will occur, but they will not stay forever. The earth will keep moving. Your situation is temporary and will pass. Does that lessen the degree of pain that you are feeling? No. But we have the assurance that nothing can separate us from the love of God, and there will be no crises in Heaven.
Your situation may have come totally out of the blue for you, but it was not an unexpected event for God. He has gone on before you, preparing the way. When you find yourself in the middle of a crisis, do not focus on the crisis. Focus on the God who rises about our circumstance, and who takes us with Him. Focus on what He is doing for you during your crisis. Do not be like Peter and focus on the scary tidal waves that are crashing about you. You'll start to sink, just as Peter did. But keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, as He is the only constant in your life. Don't miss what He is doing. He is on the front lines with you, fighting this battle for you. So that one day when you look back at the difficult time in your life, you will see Him so clearly and see what He was doing and has done for you. You will see that the world was not crumbling about you. No, God, with just the power of His word, held the world in place. At the end of the day, all that matters is that God is on His throne and Jesus is seated at God's right hand, and someday we will be with Them forever. Until then, the world will keep spinning. Each day, each hour, each minute and second is a blessing from God. Don't miss a minute of it!
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