I have quoted Mother Teresa on many occasions, here and elsewhere. \u00a0She expressed so many wonderful hints for peaceful living. \u00a0Using her words as guideposts for a life well lived would make sense, on the very personal level and certainly on the global level in these troubled times. \u00a0And currently, I am relying on this suggestion because I have been “missing the joy” that is so commonly mine. \u00a0What has interfered is the struggle I am having with chronic pain.<\/p>\n
My condition isn’t life-threatening, so I tend to pass it off as unimportant. \u00a0And when I look at the condition many of my friends and acquaintances are forced to live with daily, it isn’t all that important. \u00a0But it does grab my attention way too often and every time it does, I feel robbed of the joy that could be mine. \u00a0There is a solution, however. \u00a0And it’s one that’s so simple. \u00a0Every time I get a jab of pain in my head and neck, I can use that opportunity to smile at a passer-by or say “hello” to God. \u00a0Either of these responses to the pain will help to make this world a better place to inhabit. \u00a0My mind will be off of the pain too, for that moment at least.<\/p>\n
My pain is the result of degenerative disc disease. \u00a0It’s not going to go away but there are treatments. \u00a0I am in the middle of a series of shots currently that I hope will give me relief for up to a year. \u00a0But in the mean time, I will try to enjoy the many times I get to smile at a stranger and remember God during a day, times I might have been caught in the pain with little more on my mind.<\/p>\n
It’s interesting to look at pain from this vantage point, I think. \u00a0It gives it a purpose that’s far grander than simply feeling the pain and being sorry for myself. \u00a0Life is far too precious to be swallowed up by pain, at least the pain I have. \u00a0It’s not unbearable. \u00a0It’s pretty constant, however. \u00a0It’s been the result of a my work, actually. \u00a0Sitting at a computer for years, with head bent so that I could see the keyboard, left its mark. \u00a0I am not going to quite writing. \u00a0I am learning to live with chronic pain. \u00a0As so many others do. \u00a0And every time I get a stab of pain, I will consider it God calling and smile at the next person I see. \u00a0Makes sense to me. \u00a0How about you?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I have quoted Mother Teresa on many occasions, here and elsewhere. \u00a0She expressed so many wonderful hints for peaceful living. \u00a0Using her words as guideposts for a life well lived would make sense, on the very personal level and certainly on the global level in these troubled times. \u00a0And currently, I am relying on this […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-what-i-believe-you-and-your-higher-power"],"yoast_head":"\n