Another Miracle!

I know that there has been more miracles in my life than I deserve. In fact, I don't deserve any, but I am grateful that God has shown up in a variety of miraculous ways in my life.

Until Saturday night I hadn't slept in bed since last Saturday because I bruised a couple of ribs on Sunday not watching where I was going.

I know that several people were praying for me and I was able to sleep in bed all night and Sunday the pain in my ribs, hip, and knees was very tolerable. Today I am mostly tired because it's Monday, but I can tell that everything is on the mend.

Praise God for such a dramatic change in pain levels and tolerance!

Why, But NOT Why Me?!

I have learned over the past several years that the pain control systems in my body have taken over. What used to be common aches and pains that I could easily push through have become a littany of major pain episodes that pain killers don't impact.

Several years ago, when I received the diagnosis of why I was in so much pain, I at least had an answer. Since that time, we have been chasing a moving target to keep my pain levels under control. A common injury which should normally lead to about a 3 or 4 pain level is for me a 6 or 7. When I have an injury, the pain levels are off the charts and the fatigue that comes with it is debilitating.

I am usually able to push through to some extent. I try to take a nap every day which helps, and my physical activity is severely limited to minimize the magnification of the pain levels.

In the past several weeks I have been dealing with heightened pain levels in my left knee and hip which have made walking unbearable. Vicodin barely touches the pain and I can't function when I am on it. I finally saw the Dr. this week and we will begin a shot series in the hip soon.

On Sunday I fell and came down on the curb of a parking island. I bruised a couple of ribs on my left side. The Dr. put me on Percocet to help with the unbearable pain. It is more powerful than Vicodin, but I don't function well on it. The first few days of the week I tried working in the morning and then going home to rest and take the heavy meds. After not being able to sleep in bed and the pain level not decreasing, I stayed home on Thursday and Friday to stay on the meds and completely rest in hopes that I can get over the severe pain and function more.

I don't know if the pain would be much less before the pain issues, but that doesn't really matter right now. The pain is rediculous. I can't lie down, I can't sleep, I can't concentrate, it's really frustrating! I know that rib injuries take time to heal, but when I broke a rib a couple of years ago, it was very painful, but not as debilitating.

So, I admit, that I have asked God, "Why?" I would understand more with just the pain. I could get a lot of work done. But I can't focus to read or write (I just took meds so I have a bit of a window before they kick in). So why would God allow this? His purpose is always greater than my own, so I know he knows what he is doing. I don't question that. I'm just seeking to understand that purpose.

Since all of this pain and fatigue stuff started, I have asked many times, "Why?", but have never asked, "Why me?" I think that God has protected me from that. I still get frustrated, as now, but I trust that God is working in me to accomplish his purpose. I just wish I knew what it is!

We The People

"We the people", the first three words of the US Constitution. On Tuesday, November 4th, 2008, the people of the United States voted. We voted on national, state, and local issues and positions. For the first time in our history, an African-American has been elected president.

Some states had measures to define marriage as being between one man and one woman. It seems silly that there should be a question about that, but it is a major issue. In California, the state where I was mostly raised, the issue passed, but will be challenged in the courts. It seems incredulous that seven people will decide if "We the People" matters in California. This is a scary thought! The issue now goes beyond marriage to the constitutional issue of self determination. Unfortunately, judges have been legislating from the bench for some time. This will be a significant test to see if democracy is truly broken at least in the state of CA. Please be praying the the CA supreme court and the people of that state.