Illness teaches me that as my body diminishes, my spirit advances.
Strength of body and strength of soul may interact in an inverse way – as the one increases; the other decreases. When I scan illness’ assault on my body from this perspective it invites me into a new vision, albeit a paradoxical one where my spiritual strengths are activated by the bodily losses I’m experiencing.
I can’t wish healing for my illness as I might wish for a piece of chocolate, or some desired event or relationship. Illness plunges me into a sea that both frightens me and consoles me, both threatens me and cleanses me, and both strips me bare and clothes me in luxury.
Illness is a surprising teacher. On the one hand it takes so much away from me, but when I listen closer I can hear the call to patience. If I wait and allow the other hand to unfold, I find something I’ve wanted for so very long – a path of faith and hope that leads to a new balance and coherence of personality, new ways of opening-up my soul, and an illuminated mind, all of which can positively influence the course of my illness.
Today my spirit advances.