Awareness of God

Welcome to Sabbath Moments, a meme hosted by Colleen at Thoughts on Grace. Visit her to see the “God times” other bloggers experienced this week.

(1)This week I’ve started my daily Lenten reading/meditation program with Meditations and Readings for Lent from St. Thomas Aquinas. I am just loving this book which begins with Septuagesima Sunday and carries through to the Triduum.  Here’s a part from Thursday’s meditation:

Every man shall receive his own reward, according to his labor (1 Cor. 3:8).

I.  This reward is at once common to all men and particular to each.

(1)  It is common to all because that which all see and enjoy is the same, that is to say, God.  Then shalt thou abound in delights in the almighty (Job 22:26). In that day the Lord of hosts shall be a crown of glory, and a garland of joy to the residue of his people (Isa. 28:5) and therefore St. Matthew says (20:9) that to every laborer in the vineyard there is given one penny.

(2) The reward is yet special for each individual.  One man shall see more clearly than another, and shall enjoy more fully, according to the measure allotted him….

These short meditations afford much food for thought throughout the day and night and are a constant inspiration toward living a better life.  I especially like how St. Thomas presents so many quotes from sacred Scripture to make his points.

(2) A huge storm front came through Wednesday night with a lot of thunder and rain that continued for half the day Thursday.  Since my sleep was gravely disturbed I spent many hours repeating the wonderful words from the Good Friday Reproaches and the end of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy – Holy God, Holy mighty One, Holy immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

With the revolutions and killings in the Middle East, a Canadian hospital and death panel sentencing a little baby to death before his time (over money, not compassion), and elected officials in Midwestern states going AWOL, I really felt called to acknowledge God as supreme and plead for His mercy.

These words struck me for the first time as very Hebrew – very Old Testament. Each phrase increases in greatness the attributes of our Father, heaping declaration upon declaration.  His holiness is inseparable from His might and immortality.  Lots to meditate on here.

Next to the prayer I use to end my posts, this prayer is special to me.  It has become one of my favorites to pray in the dark or in heavy pain – a great reminder of who I am and Who He is.

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V.  Praised be Jesus Christ!

R.  Now and forever.  Amen.

(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)

Awareness of God

Today we join Colleen at Thoughts on Grace to share quiet moments we had with the Lord, or those when we experienced Him in the ordinary.

1.  The snow comes down every few days and the temperature has been 0° or slightly higher until yesterday when the sun came out and we got a little warmer.  For the past two weeks I’ve skipped working out because my fibromyalgia reacts badly to the chill. Instead, on the days I would have roused myself to go to the therapy pool, I stayed under the warm covers and meditated on matters of Faith and the Virgin Mary.

2.  My fibro pain has gone higher with the lack of exercise and yesterday while I was grocery shopping and trying to get prescriptions filled at the pharmacy I could barely contain my irritation. Doctor’s office said I didn’t have to come in, they’d call the prescription in.  OK, so far so good.

Got to the pharmacy.  Somebody with a bunch of kids had a problem not having their insurance in order.  Stand in line and wait for 20 minutes while they argue it out with the clerk.

Finally it’s my turn.  Only two out of three prescriptions were there.  Called the doctor’s office.  “Well you have to come in or we can’t give it to you.” But just two days ago they said I didn’t need to come in and that they would phone the prescriptions in.  They also said that if the doc wanted to see me, they’d call. I got no call.  Body-wide pain levels rising.

Now I have to drag my sorry behind from Walmart to home where I wait a couple of hours and then drag it to the doctor’s office where I get to take 15 minutes to fill out an electronic patient form with questions they already have answered in their system, and then wait and wait and wait. I was gritting my teeth and telling myself to hold on – choking back my feelings of wanting to give somebody a piece of my mind for having inconvenienced me.

Pain levels were accelerating while I’m trying to get a grip on myself.  The later in the day the higher the pain levels anyway. Plus, the prescription I needed was for my sleep meds.  Without them I can’t turn my brain off to sleep.  It’s one of the nasty facets of fibro I’ve tried to overcome without success. 

So add anxiety to irritation and you have one very growly lady, because I know from the outset I have to drag myself back to Walmart and wait and wait and wait all over again while my whole body becomes one huge mass of flame. Then when I finally get home I have to fix dinner.  Throw a little accelerant on the fire here.

Trying to get myself under control, I had taken the book “Kindness” by Father Lovasik to the doctor’s office with me to read while waiting.  When I got to the section, “Strive to suffer graciously” it was as if the good priest had sat me down and held up a mirror to my face.  He writes:

One of the most attractive features of holiness is to combine suffering with gentleness. [OK, tiger lady, get a grip.] This demands that suffering be almost wholly influenced by supernatural grace…. [Yep, I sure need that grace right about now before I turn into a gargoyle.]

Gargoyle

Kind suffering will make you look at what others feel rather than at what you have to bear. You will see your own crosses on other people’s shoulders, and consequently you will be all the more kind to them.  The saints were silent in suffering, because they knew that what they suffered was itself a suffering to those who loved them. [Yes, just because I'm in a lot of pain and inconvenienced to the nth degree here, why should I inflict my bad mood on everyone around me?  This is my problem, not theirs.  It is unjust to inflict it on them.  Smile and be nice.]

Make an effort to hide your pains and sorrows.  But, while you do so, let them also urge you to be kind and cheerful to those around you. The very darkness within you should create a sunshine around you.  In this way, the spirit of Jesus will take possession of your soul. [If there's anything I need at the moment, it's the spirit of Jesus.  OK, time to calm down and let all this anger go.  You can't change anything anyway.  Just hang in there.  You can get through it.  In the eternal scheme of things this is nothing.]

And so, the super grouch went back to Walmart smiling at the good people there, got her meds, went home, fixed dinner still smiling, and thanked God for the pain meds and sleep meds that helped her get ready for a new day. And hubby was also very happy that his real wife came home and not some monster out of the black lagoon. A little 100 proof spiced rum topped the day off just fine.

If it hadn’t been for Father Lovasik’s book, I would have left a lot of unhappy people in the wake of my frustration, so I consider a lot of yesterday a Sabbath Moment.

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V.  Praised be Jesus Christ!

R.  Now and forever.  Amen.

(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)

Recently I was tested by my Natural Health Doctor for gluten sensitivity by means of a saliva test.  It was called the gliadin Av, SIgA test and revealed a mild intolerance or reactivity to Gliadin, a term I had never heard of before.

Gliadins are polypeptides found in wheat, rye, oat, barley, and other grain glutens, and are toxic to the intestinal mucosa in susceptible people.  Polypeptides are chains of amino acids which are the building blocks of proteins. (Now is about the time I wish I had taken chemistry in high school!  Since I didn’t, I have to search a lot to understand important aspects of achieving wellness.)

I learned in my studies that protein is a part of every cell in our bodies, and no other nutrient plays as many different roles in keeping us alive and healthy. We need protein to grow and repair our muscles, bones, skin, tendons, ligaments, hair, eyes and other tissues. Without it, we lack the enzymes and hormones we need for metabolism, digestion and other important processes.

With gluten intolerance we aren’t getting the use of the amino acids present in the grain and we are reacting badly to them, often with a low level inflammation of the intestines.  Why is this important to know?  Any disruption in the gut by inflammation prevents us from absorbing the vitamins and minerals we need to be in balance. Our cells can be starving for proteins and for the enzymes and hormones we need to live and feel healthy.

When I was first diagnosed six years ago with severe fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and other neurological issues my holistic practitioner put me on the Atkins induction program.  It didn’t give me energy nor did it take away the fibro pain, but at some level I felt better and I lost 25 lbs. in three months.  This foray into the high protein/low refined carb way of eating was a revelation.  I never felt like I was starving and it was easy to do.  In retrospect, based on what I know now, I think that because it was  totally gluten free, I felt better.  Part of feeling better was overcoming insulin resistance, which is often a factor in fibromyalgia, and that came from eliminating grain and refined sugar carb intake while increasing fresh vegetables, berries and a variety of nuts.

Gluten Intolerance, Weight Gain, and Fibromyalgia

Some people who suffer from fibromyalgia are downright skinny.  A lot more of us weigh more than we should and have a dickens of a time getting to a normal range.  Is part of our problem gluten intolerance? Over at Gluten Free Fox doctors Vikki and Richard Peterson have written a book called The Gluten Effect that tackles the myth that gluten intolerance is marked by weight loss. (You can find the book in Barb’s Custom Shop under the “wellness” category.) Gluten sensitivity affects 40% of the population while only 1% are celiacs.  They write:

“Contrary to classic medical opinion, gluten intolerance is not associated with weight loss the majority of the time.  In fact, it is simply the opposite. Gluten-sensitive patients are overweight approximately forty percent of the time due to various direct and indirect factors. Because of the misperception that most individuals suffer weight loss when they have gluten sensitivity, a greater number of people go undiagnosed.  This perception needs to change.”

…This is one of the many reasons we wrote our book.  Not only are 95% of those suffering with celiac disease never diagnosed but the percentage of those with gluten sensitivity who continue to suffer undiagnosed is about 99.8%. This must change as too many people are suffering needlessly.

The same doctors write about fibromyalgia in their book:

“Anecdotally, we have witnessed over and over again the resolution of the classic muscle aches and tender points in response to gluten elimination. Adrenal fatigue, poor blood sugar control and hidden infections round out the most frequent causes of this condition that we find. Among our patients who have enjoyed this response, there is no question as to the link between fibromyalgia and gluten sensitivity.”

This tells me that we have unearthed another major piece of the wellness puzzle that sufferers of fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and chronic pain should look at when trying to find their own, individualized approach to health.  The other key pieces that I have explored and found to be significant for me and for others are:

1. the role of thyroid functioning - large percentages of people have underactive thyroids or their cells are unable to use the thyroid their bodies are producing due to
2. iodine deficiency – about 95% of the population suffers from iodine deficiency which prevents cells from operating efficiently and using the thyroid circulating in the blood;
3. vitamin D deficiency – the range of D3 in the blood needs to be 50-65, not 30+ as some labs say is “normal”;
4. Adrenal gland fatigue and other endocrine gland imbalances;
5. Not enough intake of flouride and chlorine-free water;
6. Type of food eaten;
7. Need for probiotics;
   
8. Stress, stress, and stress and not enough intake of vitamins and minerals for our particular needs.

Our doctors are trained to treat symptoms, but some symptoms point to so many possible diseases that a systemic approach is a much better strategy.  We aren’t going to die of fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue, but we can get to feeling better if we can find a good Natural Health Doctor who will help us diagnose the whole body and apply the remedies that work the best for us.

Since starting on the gluten-free diet several weeks ago, I have a slight increase in energy and a slight decrease in pain levels.  It looks like it can take 5-6 months to experience the good effects of this program in full.  For more information go to The Gluten Doctors blogspot.

Comments?

You might enjoy my related posts:

Adrenal fatigue, gluten intolerance, and war on ignorance

A holistic approach to treating depression

A fairly cheap way to feel better – iodine

Guaifenesin vs. iodine in treating fibromyalgia

I first mentioned the Nintendo Wii™ in my post:  Holistic Approach to Treating Depression where I wrote about the importance of exercise as part of a wellness program to overcome depression.  The Wii™ was a delightful discovery for me when I was in rehab after having both hips replaced.  Somehow, bowling and softball made regaining my balance and strengthening my legs a lot less onerous, and the occupational therapist I played with was a lot of fun.  Not only was the weather or having to go somewhere (getting in and out of a car was hard) not an issue, the mental lift I got from the exercise made me look forward the sessions.  Since then, I saw that Dr. David Williams [1] wrote about how the Wii™ is being used to help Parkinson’s patients improve balance and coordination.

If we suffer from debilitating conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, Parkinson’s, chronic back or knee pain, a stroke or obesity, our quality of life quickly diminishes.  We can easily lose our range of motion, muscle mass, and will to do even the most basic things like chopping veggies for a healthy dish, dusting the house or loading the laundry into a wash machine.  Getting in and out of a car can be a major project and slowly we find we have cut ourselves off from friends and healthy activities we once enjoyed because it is just too difficult to get out.  Depression sets in and one day we may wake up and ask ourselves, “How in the world did I get here?”

I cannot emphasize enough what Wii™ can do for us by giving us an enjoyable way to get moving, revving up the endorphins in our brains and helping us restore our balance and build muscle mass to help us move our bodies more easily. We can build core body strength, improve fine motor skills, and experience increased energy levels.  It can give us an excuse to invite a friend over for some healthy competition in a golf or bowling game, all without the stress on the body an actual game would cost us.

If you’ve ever wanted an alter-ego, the Wii™ makes it possible.  Using a character of your own creation you can track your wins, losses, and achievements, and it makes goal setting fun.  This is yet another engagement of the brain that helps with healing and improving cognitive functioning.

What I like best is that by playing a game I use the same muscles I need for doing ordinary daily activities, and it makes a good fill-in for the days I can’t make it to the therapy pool.

Probably one of the greatest challenges for a disabled person is to keep a good mental attitude, especially when getting a disease under control seems hopeless.  Playing Wii™ games makes me laugh and laughter lowers pain levels and strengthens the immune system, both of which affect depression levels.  Moving around helps the body throw off toxins that interfere with brain functioning.

If you know someone who could benefit from a Wii™ you will be doing them a great kindness to mention it and even offer to play games with them. How many lonely, depressed people with discouraging illnesses are out there who could be lifted up by playing a game with someone who cares? Who knows – you could be an “angel” in disguise.

[1] February 2010 Alternatives newsletter.  Click on the link at the sidebar for his web site.

Fushimi, Imperial Palace, Tokyo, (c)Tomo.Yun (www.yunphoto.net/en/)

Wisdom 13:3 tells us God is “the author of beauty.”  In the Catechism of the Catholic Church #2500 we find this idea developed:

Even before revealing Himself to man in words of truth, God reveals Himself to him through the universal language of creation, the work of His Word, of His wisdom: the order and harmony of the cosmos – which both the child and the scientist discover – “from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator,” “for the Author of beauty created them”. (Wisdom 13:3, 5)

The Catechism goes further in #2501:

Created “in the image of God” (Gen. 1:26), man also expresses the truth of his relationship with God the Creator by the beauty of his artistic works.  Indeed, art is a distinctively human form of expression; beyond the search for the necessities of life which is common to all living creatures, art is a freely given superabundance of the human being’s inner riches.  Arising from talent given by the Creator and from man’s own effort, art is a form of practical wisdom, uniting knowledge and skill, to give form to the truth of reality in a language accessible to sight or hearing.  To the extent that it is inspired by truth and love of beings, art bears a certain likeness to God’s activity in what He has created.  Like any other human activity, art is not an  absolute end in itself, but is ordered to and ennobled by the ultimate end of man. (cf. Pius XII, Musicae sacrae disciplina; Discourses of September 3 and December 25, 1950)

In his “Confessions”, St. Augustine reveals what happens when the pursuit of beauty is not ordered to God:

Roar of Flames, (c)Tomo.Yun (www.yunphoto.net/en/)

Late have I loved Thee, O Beauty so ancient and so new! Too late have I loved Thee. And lo, Thou wert inside me and I outside, and I sought for Thee there, and in all my unsightliness I flung myself on those beautiful things which Thou hast made. Thou wert with me and I was not with Thee. Those beauties kept me away from Thee, though if they had not been in Thee, they would not have been at all. Thou didst call and cry to me and break down my deafness. Thou didst flash and shine on me and put my blindness to flight. Thou didst blow fragrance upon me and I drew breath, and now I pant after Thee. I tasted of Thee and now I hunger and thirst for Thee. Thou didst touch me and I am aflame for Thy peace….

We can see in all of the above, a relationship exists between wisdom, truth, and beauty. One way the infinite All-Beautiful, All-Wise, All-Truth Creator reveals Himself to us is through beauty.  The pursuit of beauty rightly ordered is the pursuit of God.  And what makes something beautiful?  An inherent harmony, peace and order intrinsic to it.

Everyone needs to surround himself with some kind of beauty, especially the chronically ill.  Our bodies are discordant with disease; we are out of balance and disturbed to such an extent that all to much of our energy is spent coping and struggling to achieve some sense of equilibrium.  If we are open to it, looking at or listening to something beautiful restores inner peace and some sense of wellness.  It can spur us on to prayer and praise of God, and imperfect as earthly beauty is, it hints at the eternal harmony, order and joy we aspire to.  For many years now I have been practicing this and know that it works.  Earlier I wrote about the effect images of our beautiful Blessed Mother have on pain.  Sharing beauty will always be a part of this site.

Niju Bridge, Main Gate of Imperial Palace, Tokyo, (c)Tomo.Yun (www.yunphoto.net/en/)

Ever searching for beauty, yesterday I was looking for free stock photos to use at this site. Many pages into the Google list I stumbled upon an extraordinarily talented photographer who is willing to share his work for free as long as the user follows the terms of the license agreement at his site.  Yun is very generous.  You might enjoy reading about why here.  I find much of his work a real joy and thank God I have eyes to see.  If you visit his site, be prepared to stay awhile and be captivated by the beauty.   Perhaps other bloggers who come here may wish to use his work, or readers may like to download images for personal use.  Speaking as a professional photographer, copyright and credit is important to protect an artist and honor his work.

Readers can grow in appreciation of how God works in their lives, drawing closer to Him through the unpleasant and sometimes devastating circumstances we all suffer because of our fallen nature.  Think: building virtue, avoiding despair.

Smoothly written and logically composed, it offers the flexibility of going directly to sections of interest, losing nothing when bypassing previous sections.  Moreover, the “Finding Purpose Beyond…” suggestions and challenges at the end of each section help to focus on moving toward real happiness through the suffering we cannot escape. I found the content of this feature very thought-provoking and helpful.

Engaging stories of individuals the authors have treated in their practices illustrate their points and enliven the subject along with appropriate Biblical quotes.  I highly recommend this book to people looking for answers to circumstances troubling them, wondering where God is in all of it, and how life can be better. 

I am a member of the Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger program: http://brb.thomasnelson.com/.  In exchange for posting reviews I received this book free.

Catholics praying the Divine Office will find this Biblical quote in the hour of Lauds from the Saturday Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  It is a favorite of mine because not only does it apply to Our Lady, it applies to every person created.  In this one verse God tells us that we are in His mind from all eternity, and that we will live forever after death, worshiping and praising Him. 

I am constantly struck by the love God has for each person – that He made us and His we are. (Ps. 99:3)  When we are struggling with pain and illnesses of all types we can sometimes forget that One greater than we has us in His heart.  Often we are so preoccupied with just getting by under our own power we forget to surrender to His power – to stop and ask what He is asking from us.

With the culture of death gaining greater ascendance daily, it seems to me that we must practice our Faith ever more diligently and especially to pray for the conversion of others.  (We must pray daily for our own conversion, too, but that is another topic.) 

For those of us who cannot do much in the physical realm, there remain the intentions of the heart: the unseen sacrifices we make in union with Christ.  The value of these sacrifices cannot be measured in earthly terms.  We will only know their true worth at the Last Judgment.  Fortunately, we have great examples to follow from Our Lady to our brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone on before us.  Saints such as Catherine Laboure, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Faustina Kowalska, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, St. John Cantius, and Blessed Herman Joseph of Steinfeld – all spiritual giants who called no attention to themselves but left us the example of quiet holiness and the desire that all come to know and love Our Lord.