Dark Things......

Good afternoon to all, some updates on whats going on. First, Sen. Lemieux's office is still working on my Medicare foul up, this is frustrating to me because I need things and home health help and physical therapy. Second, I have just finished my 5 day steroid treatment and I am back where I was 6 days ago. During that five day period my overall ability improved and the pain was eliminated. I hope my wife calls my doctor for long term steroid use because I am in pain. I have not gotten up except to go to the bathroom yet today because I just don't feel like it. This could easily turn into a three pain pill day. Third, today is my 29th wedding anniversary to the gift from my father above, Sharon. Fourth, our five pound chihuahua has been sick and is coming home from the vet today, an unplanned expense. Now on to today's post.....

About two weeks ago my wife brought this concept to my attention; I call it the reduction or elimination of the "dark things" in our lives. To be specific, I make the choice to monitor and manage all the dark things that I say, hear,and watch. I choose simply to do this out of love for my wife and for my family. This disease has been difficult but especially so on my wife Sharon because she got hit by every thing. What I choose to do, I do for her and to be obedient to the will of my father in Heaven

Again, to be specific; there are certain TV shows I will not watch. There is certain music I will not listen to. Whenever I think of it I bring up this mental picture of a a barrier of love around my family. This is not my love this is my fathers agape love that he gives to us. Since my primary source of entertainment is the TV, I am picky about what watch. I wish to be clear here so I will restate this belief in a more concise manner: I believe that there are evil forces that exist that have manifested themselves through my disease and the results of this disease.

I must be very careful and always remember that I am not being punished nor did I commit "bad karma". This is not the "luck of the draw". I simply choose not to be discouraged or allow my encouragement to be taken or stolen from me. I also choose to protect my heart. That protection extends to my wife and family which are the two things plus the relationship with my father in heaven that make up the three things that are most important to me, even more important than my life itself. This is not done from a legalistic "have to " position but from a father's love for those who love him. It is my choice to set and be the example of love to my wife and family, this extends beyond the encouragement for husbands found in Ephesians chapter 6.

So here I am asking what does this really mean? Am I just guarding whats important or am I connecting with something much much bigger than I am? These are thoughts that I must consider and try to answer in next weeks post. Already the thought of an old barn comes to mind..........

Love, Peace, and Understanding to all, please keep Sharon and I in your prayers, Gene/slc

P.S. For more information on this viewpoint read C.S. Lewis's, The Screwtate Letters