Christians were told by Jesus that anyone who wanted to follow him must take up his cross and follow him. This does not mean looking for suffering, such as martyrdom, a practice that is strictly forbidden, but it means facing up to life's duties and troubles without compromising your Christian moral standards. Ill-health is a cross that we all must bear and do so according to moral standards.
Bearing the cross involves not slipping into selfishness. It is easy to slip into the mind set of thinking that your illness gives you some kind of priority on attention and precedence over others. It is important that you recognize that others have needs as well as you do and that while your needs are strong not every need or perceived need or desire of yours is priority. Bearing the cross means disciplining yourself to avoid self-pity, which is a spiritually deadening form of egocentricity. I discipline myself to look at others who are worse off than I am, and there are plenty of them.
I am trying to be a good Christian, and this is a demanding task. I think it important to count your blessings. I have a loving wife and family, good friends, a supportive community, a peaceful country to live in, a comfortable home, food and warmth, interesting things to do and enough money for my needs. Moreover, While the average age for developing the disease is 56, I showed the first symptoms in my late sixties, so the disease has not as much time to mature with me as it does with many others. When I asked the consultant how long before I reach stage 5, his reply was, "You are not going to live to 120, but you are good for another 10 to 15 years." Considering that I am 71 that will be sufficient.
Trying to blame others for your woes is a form of displacement. True, a young doctor misdiagnosed my problems as orthopaedic some years ago, but she put me through the Parkinson's checks, and I passed them. So she misinterpreted the main symptom, my gait, as an orthopaedic difficulty. I am uninterested in blaming her, the mistake was reasonable and failure to recognize early Parkinson's is a major source of misdiagnosis.
Responding in a spiritual way involves not giving in to the side-effects of the medication, which can make you more impulsive. The consultant warned of people who gamble small amounts suddenly gambling large sums. However, as I do not gamble at all this will not be a problem. But the warning is useful, for I will add prayers for self-control to my daily regime.
Comments
Interesting, but I suspect that the social aspect of the therapy is an element in the therapy.
Frank,
Retirement definitely can remove a lot of stressors, so it's good that low stress characterizes your retirement.
Even little stresses can interfere with well-being, though. If a stress arises, a quick remedy could be my sister's alternative to the foot remedy. She places an index finger in the middle of the other hand's palm and her thumb in the equivalent spot on the top of that hand and applies light pressure. She has found that self-application of the foot remedy takes longer than when she applies the remedy to others, so she uses the hand version on herself. It's more discreet than the foot, and she often does it even when not stressed because it is so comfortable, natural and relaxing.
Thanks, Derdriu. Being retired enables me to relax far more than I used to. I do believe that stress has contributed to my condition, but as l now have a very low stress lifestyle life is easier.
Frank,
A technique from energy medicine practitioner Donna Eden has helped me to relax and to feel better almost immediately when I experience symptoms of some health issues. I presently do not have access to her book Energy medicine: Balancing Your Body's Energies for Optimal Health, Joy, and Vitality, so I hope that I can describe the point understandably. It's located on the ball of the feet, in the depression between the bones of the big toe and second toe.
I was saved from fainting one day by my sister applying pressure at that point. She places her thumb on that point on top of the left foot and usually her index finger on that point on the bottom of the left foot and applies gentle pressure. It was amazing how quickly I became alert and relaxed.
If my right foot is easier to access, she applies the technique on that foot. It doesn't really seem to matter which foot; they both work. And lately she has applied the technique on both feet simultaneously, and the resulting relaxation and well-being are wonderful. She says that, via her studies of ancient yoga and Indian ayurvedic medicine, relaxation is one of the essential keys to well-being.
As WriterArtist wrote: "Stay calm and be strong." With respect to health, calm and strength may be deemed synonymous, for they work wonders.
WriterArtist,
I'm sending prayers for your father's well-being and for appreciation of your care of him.
You noted: "When you are praying, pray for others, pray for the entire living beings in universe." Your words remind me of the Buddhist prayer for the well-being of everyone. I remember reading a book by Buddhist meditator Sharon Salzburg in which she said that one of the participants in one of her meditation sessions told her that what got her through a really difficult period was the knowledge that at any given time of the day or night of every day, somewhere in the world, Buddhists were praying for everyone's well-being, so that included her.
Thanks.
Prayers assured Writer Artist...
I will pray for your father.
Thanks I follow this guidance already.
Dear frankbeswick - I am battling with my father's illness who was diagnosed with cancer. Very busy for the last 7,8 months and trying to help him in ways that are less stressful to him.
You are doing the right thing by being a good Christian, praying and serving. There is no reason for you to worry. You can continue whatever makes you feel positive.
Meditation goes a long way in helping reduce stress and pain. If you can't meditate, it is alright. If you know any breathing exercise that will do. Keep calm and be strong.
You have mentioned that you pray. When you are praying, pray for others, pray for the entire living beings in universe. The universe will help you. You will find that help will come from unexpected sources.