 I've been sick this past week- a bad cold hanging on. This cold has
all the typical symptoms; runny nose, cough, fever, headache. The worst
part is that I lost my voice for a couple of days! But as I have been
slumped on my couch, I've been thinking about what I can learn from
being sick. Here are a few life lessons that I came up with...
Rest
Rest is good when you're sick. Often, your body demands it! I went
through a bout of illness about 8 years ago, when I was working way too
much (80+ hours a week). I was sick, but I did not rest. The cold got
worse, and ended up lasting about 6 weeks, with a run of pneumonia at
the end. Had I rested at the beginning of the cold, it probably would
have lasted a week. Instead, I pushed through, without rest, and paid
the consequences later. Resting when you are sick is not laziness,
it's just smart!
Treating the Symptoms
All the over-the-counter medicine I have been using this week just
treat the symptoms of the cold- not the cold itself. How often have I
done the same thing in life? How often have I found ways to cope with
the symptoms of unhealth
in my life, instead of dealing with the causes. Now, I know there is
no cure for the "common" cold, but when it comes to emotional and
spiritual unhealth,
steps can be taken to deal with root causes. Prayer, counseling,
discipleship all can help, if the patient is willing. Dealing only
with the symptoms leads to more symptoms, and more involved coping
mechanisms that will never address the real "cold".
Always be prepared.
The scouts motto sure does apply to being sick! The best scenario when
getting a cold, is to have all the supplies you need stored up
beforehand. Running out to the drug store to get cough medicine,
tissues, vitamin c pills, etc, is no fun when you are already sick!
The same thing is true when we face tough times in life. The better
prepared we are, especially spiritually, before the crisis comes, the
better we will cope. I have been called upon to lend counsel and
support quite often when people I know have come into crisis. The
people who came through the crises the best were those who were well
studied in the Bible, had a strong and growing relationship with God,
and were well supported in a faith community. Often, telling someone
with a weak faith to trust God when their world is falling apart seems
outrageous. Always be prepared.
Prevention is Paramount
The best way to deal with a cold is to avoid getting it in the first
place! While we cannot always avoid getting sick (just ask a parent
with a sick child!), there are things we can do to reduce the risk.
Each one correlates with a spiritual principle.
Wash our hands------> Ask for forgiveness on a regular basis!
Don't kiss someone with a runny nose------> Be wise in our relationships!
Cover your mouth when you cough!------> If you're already sick, keep your mouth shut!
I know that I will be feeling better in a few days. These
things run their course. How do I know? Experience. I have been sick
before, and have always recovered before. When it comes to my
spiritual life, I can see the same patterns. Cycles of health and unhealth,
circling around my soul week after week, year after year. It is up to
me to take the best action to deal with those "colds" of the soul, even
to prevent them from happening in the first place.
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