ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 19, 2025
I’m going to share something personal, though if you know me, you know this isn’t unusual. I find it challenging to share much without offering from my personal story. A little over twenty-seven years ago, I was diagnosed with M.S. At the time, I had a great neurologist and primary care doctor who walked me through the first steps after diagnosis. I also had a meeting with a specialist and someone from a national M.S. organization, and they both told me the same thing. I should plan to be in a wheelchair and on disability by the time I was fifty. I needed to get my affairs in order before then. Over the next decade, I was given grim reports about any sort of serious surgery as it could have dangerous implications for my M.S. Those were frightening words to hear for many reasons, but especially as Donna and I had only recently married. Today, I am in my late fifties, and I just had a knee replacement with the plans of many, many years of walking, maybe even some jogging. I offer those words with humility as I know people, even one younger than I am, who have died in the last year because of complications related to M.S. I also celebrate the amazing progress made with medication and other care. Like anyone, I can’t guarantee what will happen tomorrow or next month, but I believe my good health has been guided by excellent doctors and undergirded with lots of prayer and love. Had things not turned out so well, I’m pretty certain we would have still found a way forward, but I find myself expressing gratitude more and more often.
For the way you journey with us no matter the circumstances, we give you thanks, O Holy and Eternal Spirit. Amen.
