Life is...

Recently, while taking a long car drive, l listened to a book on tape by Chris Favry entitled Dogwood. It is a character driven story of sacrifice and redemption with some shaking revelations and plot twists that totally took me "off guard". I loved it, so much so I listened to it another 9 hours worth! HIghly recommend you get a copy. But "praising" the book is not exactly what I want to share but rather something I read in it.

In the book there is a character named Ruthie who is witty, a bit eccentric, and definitely wise. I have taken the liberty of paraphasing her view of life thinking it may just put a smile on your face and for maybe a moment lift a burden. "A glad heart makes a happy face..." Proverbs 1:13a

Ruthie says life is a dance through a field of cow manure. Most people just dance around the edges, always trying to avoid life's smelly messes, afraid of the struggles. In so doing they miss the patches of rich green grass only the fertilizing manure can produce. And tucked in the patches of green grass are beautiful flowers that only can be seen in the middle of the field. Instead of just hugging the fence posts Ruthie advises one to put on hip boots and waltze through the cowpies! Love this "picture", probably because I grew up on a farm and can relate to this scene.

The challenging field I am facing is posted with a sign Parkinson's Disease. Recently I have been trying to juggle new medication and its side effects with diet issues. I already have given up dairy, wheat, sugar, and processed foods, & now I have to add to that list avocados, bananas, dried meats, and all fermented and aged foods because of their levels of tyramine which could cause higher than normal blood pressure interacting with the medication. 

It seems daily I am seeing greater levels of manure in this field so simply sitting down beside a fence post seems a good option. It is easy to let discouragement set in BUT I really want to see the flowers among the patches of rich, green grass, so will you join me in putting on your hip boots and skipping through the cowpies? Your field will have a different posted sign but the cow manure is the same in every field, as is the green grass and flowers!

I am reminded that going with us through that field is the Lord himself.

Deuteronomy 31:8

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged."

Bring on the manure!!